Hurst tips Hammers for play-off success

Sir Geoff Hurst is backing West Ham to secure their return to the Barclays Premier League the hard way after missing out on automatic promotion.

The former Hammers striker, who was plying his trade at Upton Park when he wrote his name into the history books with hisWorld Cup final hat-trick, admitted his disappointment that Sam Allardyce's men were unable to secure the top-two finish which looked to be within their grasp as the npower Championship season approached its climax.

However, now Cardiff stand between them and a Wembley final with a huge prize at stake, and Hurst is hoping they can make the most of their second chance. He told Press Association Sport: "It was tinged with disappointment that they didn't go up automatically when it looked like they were going to do, but they are still in with a shout, and a very strong shout.

"They have got to win three more games. They didn't finish the season too badly, particularly at home, where results had been poor at times.

"The away record is some kind of record for the club, but they have lost a couple of games at home. But they won convincingly at home, 6-0, a couple of games ago and in terms of form coming into the play-off games, the form is pretty good.

"It's going to be tough. They are playing Cardiff, who gave Liverpool a game in the Carling Cup final, but they are still there. They are still in with a shout with a couple of games home and a final at Wembley to fight for."

Reo-Coker, Carew and Pires handed Villa frees

Moustapha Salifou, Isaiah Osbourne, Harry Forrester, Arsenio Halfhuid, Durrell Berry, Ellis Deeney and Calum Flanagan have also left the club.

Former England Under-21 captain Reo-Coker departs Villa four years after arriving from West Ham United, while Carew fell out of favour under Gerard Houllier and has spent the second half of the season on loan at Stoke City.

Former Arsenal midfielder Pires signed a six-month contract in March having being released by La Liga side Villarreal a year ago.

Pires, now 37, has been tipped to follow his former Arsenal team-mate Thierry Henry in Major League Soccer in the US.

Gold: No contact with Jones

West Ham co-owner David Gold maintains the club have not approached Cardiff manager Dave Jones about the managerial vacancy at Upton Park.

The Irons sacked Avram Grant after they were relegated from the Barclays Premier League.

Reports had suggested they would now move for Jones, with the Bluebirds having lost in the npower Championship play-offs.

However, Gold said on Twitter: "Despite what you may have read in the papers, we have not spoken to Dave Jones."

The 54-year-old former Wolves boss also appeared to rule himself out of the running. Quoted in the East London Advertiser, Jones said: "I have not had any contact with them over the job. I am not prepared to say anything about the vacancy.

"I am still employed by Cardiff City and only thinking of them. I will be sitting down with the board at Cardiff and discussing my future with them soon."

Chairboys continue pre-season plans

Wycombe have announced pre-season friendlies against Championship clubs Crystal Palace and West Ham at Adams Park this summer.

Wanderers host the Eagles on Tuesday, July 19 before coming up against the Hammers, recently relegated from the Premier League, just four days later on Saturday, July 23.

Chairboys boss Gary Waddock told the club`s official website: "Playing against clubs of Crystal Palace and West Ham's quality will be good preparation for League One.

"We hope to have a number of new signings in place by then and this will be the perfect opportunity to see them in action before the season starts."

Wycombe clinched automatic promotion to the third tier this season as they finished third in League Two.

Eurosport

Ben Haim wants Pompey chance

Portsmouth defender Tal Ben Haim wants to resume his career at Fratton Park.

The Israeli has not played for Pompey since he returned from a loan spell from West Ham in January due to a legal wrangle with the club.

But he continued to train with his team-mates this season and remains one of only nine players currently contracted to the south-coast side.

Ben Haim's agent, Pini Zahavi, told The News: "There is nothing happening with Tal at the moment. He is still the player of Portsmouth and he would like to play for them.

"He wanted to play this season, the manager wanted him to play as well. He has kept playing international football and trained every day with Portsmouth.

"Tal still wants to play for the club. You will have to ask Portsmouth why he is not."

Eurosport

Keane prepared to move on

Tottenham striker Robbie Keane accepts he is likely to be looking for yet another club this summer, but feels no need to advertise his services.

Keane has endured a frustrating season after falling out of favour at White Hart Lane, with a loan spell at West Ham being hampered by injury and ending in relegation.

The much-travelled 30-year-old has now linked up with the Republic of Ireland for their four summer fixtures but is not viewing them as a chance to parade his talent to prospective new employers. Keane, who has already played for eight clubs, said: "I will just concentrate on doing what I do and hopefully score goals."

He added: "It has been a frustrating season for me but that is the past now. I will concentrate on these four games, take a break, switch off from football for a few weeks and then go back and see what happens. I have only got one year left there [at Tottenham] so I am sure they will probably want to do business on me."

West Ham do not want to re-sign Keane following their relegation to the Championship but he would prefer to stay in the Premier League anyway - if any clubs express interest. Newly-promoted QPR have been linked but have not made any interest official.

He said: "The chances in the Premier League for me are fairly slim. For me it is about enjoying my football and playing as much as I can, maybe going to a team where I can maybe help the younger players that are coming through.

"I am not getting any younger but I will go back and see what happens. I am a Tottenham player and I am sure they will want to get a bit of money for me. Whether a Championship team would pay that, that's another problem, but I want to play in the Premier League for the next couple of years."

Having overcome a calf injury, Keane is hoping get back to full match fitness for Ireland's Euro 2012 qualifier in Macedonia on June 4. He will captain his country in Tuesday's Carling Nations Cup game against Northern Ireland in Dublin but is only likely to play the first half.

He will then hope for more action against Scotland in the same competition on Sunday. Keane, Ireland's record goalscorer with 46, said: "I am really looking forward to being with the Irish team, switching off from the Premier League and helping this team get three points against Macedonia."

Keane did not train with the rest of the squad having been invited, as captain, to meet President Barack Obama during his state visit to Dublin. "It's a great honour to meet the president, an absolute pleasure," said Keane at his pre-match press conference. "It's a bit surreal but I'm looking forward to it."

Reuters

Di Canio hopes contacts can deliver

Paolo Di Canio will use his contacts at Tottenham and AC Milan to bring in players to boost Swindon's promotion push next season.

The Italian will take his first managerial steps at the Wiltshire club after signing a two-year contract to succeed Paul Hart, who departed at the end of last month following relegation from League One.

Di Canio, who was officially unveiled as Town's new manager at a press conference at the County Ground this morning, played under Harry Redknapp for two-and-a-half years at West Ham and has already spoken to the Tottenham boss about possible loan signings.

However, the 42-year-old insists that the core of the team will remain English.

"We are close to signing Lionel Messi," Di Canio joked. "But seriously, we need people with good physical qualities. And that happens everywhere, not just League Two.

"I have good contacts. I know that Harry Redknapp would be willing to help me out with players and I have spoken positively to the chairman at Milan about lending up and coming youth."

Eurosport