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Page last updated at 18:16 GMT, Friday, 17 December 2010

Manager Avram Grant unaware of West Ham sack ultimatum

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West Ham have not given ultimatum - Grant

West Ham manager Avram Grant says he has received no ultimatum from the club's board to win one of his next three games or lose his job.

BBC Sport understands Grant will become the third top-flight boss to be sacked this term unless he meets this target.

The 55-year-old has only one win in 11 Premier League matches, leaving the relegation-threatened club three points adrift at the bottom of the table.

"Nobody from the board has spoken to me about this target," said Grant.

It is understood Sam Allardyce, sacked by Blackburn this week, is being considered as a replacement. Newcastle boss Chris Hughton was the other manager dismissed this month.

West Ham next travel to Blackburn and Fulham before a home game with Everton.

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Vice-chairman Karren Brady told BBC Sport a month ago that Grant would "almost definitely" remain in charge at the end of the season and the club are likely to invest in new players during the January transfer window.

But a source said replacing the Israeli if he fails to meet the terms of the ultimatum would allow the club to make best use of the transfer window, giving the new manager "a chance to make the changes he wanted".

But despite Grant's claim that he has not been given a three-game ultimatum by the board, the former Chelsea and Portsmouth boss says he is prepared for the unexpected.

"When you are in the football business, especially as a manager, you never know what is around the corner," he added.

"I speak with the owners all the time, but I did not speak to them about this [ultimatum] specifically."

However, the omens do not look good for West Ham if they are still bottom going into the new year with West Brom the only club to ever survive relegation when doing so.

But Grant says he is unfazed by the statistics and is bullish about his side's chances of staying up.

"Do you know how many times I have needed to fight in a difficult situation?" he said.

"Statistics don't send you down, what we do or don't do on the pitch will take us down. We have to stay positive and there are a lot of games still to play."

Grant added on the West Ham website: "We have done a lot of good things. They showed good spirit last week and that's what I need to focus on.

"I think we have a good chance to stay in the league. I think we have a very good chance of following our vision for the club and being a very good team next year. We know what we want from ourselves.

"For the moment we need to take the points to do it. It is not a good situation, but it something that is possible. It's hard, but we can do it."



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see also
Grant has three games to save job
15 Dec 10 |  West Ham
West Ham making progress - Grant
05 Dec 10 |  West Ham
Grant issues Hammers rallying cry
27 Nov 10 |  Premier League
Hammers board back manager Grant
16 Nov 10 |  West Ham
West Ham assistant boss departs
23 Nov 10 |  West Ham
Grant confirmed as West Ham boss
03 Jun 10 |  West Ham
West Ham 1-3 Man City
11 Dec 10 |  Premier League


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