WHAT? I'm in charge next week? (img from Independant)

All was going to plan in the Sullivan & Gold offices at Upton Park.

Slowly but surely turning the screw, increasingly making Avram Grant’s position as manager untenable. Avram himself wasn’t helping with results, it must be added.

“O’NEIL TO BECOME THE NEW MANAGER OF WEST HAM”, we hear immediately prior to Grant taking charge against Arsenal. A mole in the boardroom suprised us all (and I assume Avram too) with the leak.

Did they prepare, however, for a situation whereby a manager, who’s position is now untenable, has to be kept in a job because their despicable antics have left them no choice?

It wasn’t so long ago when we were in a similar situation as they gently, but forcibly, led Zola to the exit door. “We don’t sack our managers”, they cry as justification for the mutual dismissal of Zola. He wasn’t, of course, their appointment.

Grant was. And Grant is, I quote, “Our man”.

Criticisms have been aimed Grant’s way throughout the season. We still persist with 4-5-1 and continue to sit back, absorb pressure and concede. It doesn’t get any better. But whatever you think of Grant, his tactis, his ambition and his enthusiasm (or lack thereof), nobody deserves this treatment. Not him, and not the fans.

But how could it, with a pair of callous owners who objectify the fans and so far, their managers. They sell at us, they honestly believe that at the end of a 3-0 drubbing at the hands of Arsenal we all want to hear Jeremy over the tannoy telling us of the great deals on matches in the coming weeks.

We don’t.

Neither do we constantly want to be told how great they are each time they “slash” prices, with “massive” discounts for members and that Birmingham is “kids for a quid”. And of course cup games, from now onwards, are going to have “Spec-tactular” savings. Until you get to the semi’s, then we’re going to whack the prices up again.

Stop telling us how great you are.

You’re not.

We’ve a proud tradition and you’re a disgrace to it. Throughout my life, I’ve proudly worn the claret & blue. At the moment I’m ashamed of it.

Your behaviour towards Zola and Grant reeks of cowardice. It’s gutless,  craven and vicious; frankly no way for owners of a football club to behave. You conspire in the shadows to overthrow a manager, who has a hard enough job as it is. There’s no dignity or integrity in tacking a backhanded approach to the dismissal of a manager, no matter how good or bad he is.

You’re cowards. All three of you. With one apparent focus….yourselves.

Constant appearances in the press, a “reveal all” column in the Sun. Is this honestly how you think, oh experienced ones, it’s acceptable to run a football club? Shallow promises to fans, leaks from within the club.

Speculation is supposed to be started by the press, not by the club itself. Sort it out.

With all of this going on, there’s still the expectation of the team to perform and drag itself of the bottom of the league, where it seems to be so mutually attached. You continue to tell us to get behind the team. Tell us how wonderful our support is.

How about that starts from the top?

I can only account for one occasion that you’ve listened to the fans and that’s when we asked you to stop spouting your mouths off in the press. The time you decide to do it conveniently came when everyone involved with the club actually needed you to make a statement. Nice one.

The statement, of course, did finally arrive.

It was a grovelling defence, declaring support for….. Karen Brady. Not Grant. Wouldn’t want to do them a disservice mind you he was mentioned, in passing.

A timid backing for a man who is now tasked with steering our side to safety, with a semi-final second leg, because who in their right mind would now want his job?

Somehow, I can’t see it happening.