Parker given permission to exit West Ham
He signed a new long-term contract earlier this season but West Ham will not stand in soon-to-be three-time Hammer of the Year Scott Parker's way if he wishes to leave the club in the event of relegation this summer, judging by comments made by co-owner David Gold to the BBC.
The England midfielder was named the Football Writers' Association Player of the Year last month despite representing the Premier League's bottom club and is believed to have plenty of admirers, with Tottenham and Liverpool among those credited with an interest in the 30-year-old.
The former Charlton star has produced the best form of his career in a West Ham shirt having failed to live up to the early promise shown at The Valley during spells at Chelsea and Newcastle and Gold, the most popular member of the West Ham board, admits it would be unfair to expect him to stay.
Talking to Football Focus presenter Dan Walker about the prospects of keeping hold of internationals if the Irons go down, he said: "It's unrealistic to ask an England player to come down and play in the Championship. It impacts on his career."
That honest revelation indicates that captain Matthew Upson, whose contract expires this summer, in-form goalkeeper Robert Green, who has just over a year to run on his current deal, and Carlton Cole could all be on their way out if the east Londoners fail to find a way out of the bottom three.
West Ham have three games left to drag themselves to safety, at home to Blackburn and Sunderland and away to fellow drop zone-inhabitants Blackpool, and manager Avram Grant believes that seven points are required to survive, meaning they can't afford another defeat.
Will the Irons be relegated? They are [1.39] second favourites to tumble...
Published: 6 May 2011
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