There is currently an article on the League Manager's Association website which highlights comments made by the LMA Chief Executive, John Barnwell. Mr Barnwell states the LMA is keen to uncover just how it became public knowledge that Alan Pardew's name was top of West Ham United's wanted list.
The clear implication is that West Ham United made this information public in an attempt to induce Alan Pardew to breach his contract with Reading. This accusation is categorically denied. On Friday 5th September, West Ham United's Managing Director, Paul Aldridge, requested permission from the Reading Chairman, Mr Madejski, to speak to Alan Pardew.
Within one hour of Paul's request Mr Madejski issued a statement on his Club's website informing the world that West Ham United had made an approach for Alan Pardew which was rejected. Unfortunately this meant the world's media were now aware of West Ham United's approach and the speculation surrounding Alan Pardew simply intensified.
As a result of this increased speculation West Ham United made a further approach direct to Mr Madejski on Monday 8th September to request permission to speak to Alan Pardew. Again Mr Madejski chose to highlight this on his Club's website.
As the Football League rules require, West Ham United approached Mr Madejski directly and did not release publicly the fact it has made such an approach. It was Mr Madejski alone who chose to tell the world that West Ham United had made an approach for Alan Pardew and that is precisely why, in John Barnwell's words, "it became public knowledge that Alan Pardew's name was top of West Ham United's wanted list".
West Ham United did not improperly make public the approaches it had made to Mr Madejski as alleged by the LMA. Indeed the LMA's call for an investigation as to how it became public knowledge that Alan Pardew's name was top of West Ham United's wanted list is clearly unnecessary as it was the Reading Chairman Mr Madejski who released such information.
Scott Duxbury
West Ham United Company Secretary
Thursday, September 11, 2003.