Md: Glenn In Good Hands

Managing Director Paul Aldridge says that appointing Trevor Brooking as caretaker manager will give West Ham the best chance of staying up - and is keen to assure everyone that Glenn Roeder is receiving the "best possible care" in hospital.

"Clearly, our thoughts and prayers are with Glenn and his family, and I can reassure his friends and our supporters that he is receiving the best possible care," says Paul.

"In this regard, I would like to place on record the gratitude of the club to the staff at the Royal London hospital who have been extremely professional and sensitive.

"Their priority, and ours, is ensuring that Glenn does make a complete recovery in the fullness of time.

"As regards football matters, we have appointed Trevor Brooking as caretaker manager to preserve continuity at the club, and to give us the best possible chance of keeping the good results of recent weeks going as we look to retain our Premiership status.

"We have got great respect for Paul Goddard and Roger Cross, and it goes without saying that there is no doubting their coaching ability.

"But with the obvious difficulty of the situation, we feel we needed someone else in to fill the void left by Glenn at the moment.

"The board felt that with Trevor's knowledge, experience, and excellent reputation, coupled with the respect we know he commands from the players, he would be the ideal man for the job.

"We all know that Trevor continues to be a great servant of the club and his help has been particularly invaluable in the last few days.

"The reaction of the playing and non-playing staff has been very positive, and, from a football point of view, the focus remains firmly on getting the results that we need.

"The players are, naturally, concerned about Glenn, but they know that the outcome we all would want is for Glenn to return to full health and the club to stay in the Premiership.

"They have been informed, not only of the decision, but the rationale behind it, Trevor has spoken to them all, and the response has been magnificent."