The Next West Ham Manager ...

Alan Curbishley remains the bookies' and the newspapers' favourite to replace Alan Pardew as the new West Ham manager. Today's Independent claims that West Ham have already made an informal approach to the former Addick's manager and will make an official approach later today. The paper claims the club want Curbishley in place before the Man Utd game.

Whilst The Independent also state that Curbishley's agent has denied any approach by West Ham, and point out that he has turned down the role in the past, they claim he is now ready to return to Upton Park. The Sun also claim to have inside knowledge and say that Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson and Eggert Magnusson hope to hold talks with Curbishley within the next 24 hours. However they say that Curbishley has major concerns about the influence of the Icelandic owners over the team.

The Times however trump the other papers by carrying a direct quote from Curbishley that seems to confirm that West Ham have already approached him about the vacancy,

"I suspect we will get together over the next day or so when the dust has settled. I would love to know what they have to say — of course I am interested. Once you are brought up in a background like West Ham, the affection you have for the club never goes away."

The Telegraph also claim that Curbishley is the front runner and reveal a little about Pardew's dismissal. Apparently Magnusson called Pardew on Sunday, asking him to attend a meeting at Upton Park after training yesterday. Pardew was told he had to go and the pair then agreed a compensation package for the remaining three years of his contract, signed last year, thought to be worth around £1 million.