No immediate announcement to be made by Hammers

MARK NOBLE and James Tomkins have come out in support of under pressure manager Avram Grant, whose future was discussed at a board meeting today.

The Israeli is expected to be in charge of the match against Arsenal this weekend with a source at the club saying Wednesday’s meeting was ‘regular and no announcements are expected to be made immediately following it taking place’.

“We are aware of what’s happening in the press and there’s speculation about the manager’s job but we’re all playing for him and doing our best for the team,” Tomkins said.

“I feel for him. It’s not always the manager’s fault. The players go on the pitch and we have to take responsibility for the way we’ve performed. It’s not all down to him.”

It’s an opinion echoed by Noble who believes recent showings prove their commitment towards Grant.

“So much has been said about the manager over the last couple of weeks, couple of months. You can see how the boys worked tonight that if they didn’t like the manager I don’t think you would have got that effort from them. That shows you obviously we are behind him and playing for the club. That is what we need to do.”

But is the club behind him? Co-owner David Sullivan had a great opportunity to put the matter to bed through his Birmingham City programme notes on Tuesday night, but failed to even mention Grant.

The Hammers beat Birmingham 2-1 to take a narrow lead into the second leg in two weeks and after the match the boss seemed agitated by the lack of firm support.

“I lived with rumours, I think, since day one,” he said. “For us, it is much easier if the rumours around were like at other clubs.

“If everything was more quiet, I think it would help the players more. Why do you need to ask me about something that is not in my control?

“You can ask me why I picked this player and not the other one because this is my responsibility.”