NOBLE: PLAYERS KEPT IN DARK OVER CURBISHLEY RESIGNATION
West Ham United players had no inkling that Alan Curbishley's relationship with the club's board had become so strained and were kept in the dark about the clashes over transfer policy that culminated in his exit.
Indeed, the 50-year-old's resignation on Wednesday, on the back of West Ham's best start to a Premier League campaign in almost a decade, came as a complete shock to his former troops, Mark Noble has revealed.
The Under-21 midfielder, who strides out at Wembley on Friday for the first time as Stuart Pearce's team go in search of a draw against Portugal to ensure a play-off en route to next summer's European Championships, was having lunch when he first learned of the news on television.
The 21-year-old had been conversing with U-21 team-mate Steven Taylor about Newcastle's precarious situation when he suddenly saw his own club were the ones who had lost their manager.
"I was sitting down eating lunch and we were chatting about all the stuff about Kevin Keegan and that news popped up," he admitted. "I was talking to Tails [Steven Taylor] about what was going on at his club Newcastle and then I found out that I didn't have a manger.
"I've had some texts from team-mates - we have all been in touch wondering what is happening. They only know as much as I do. He is a proud man but I don't know what was going on. The only certainty is that we are going to have a manager, but I don't know who that will be."
Noble praised Curbishley's contribution to the club he had been in charge of since December 2006. The former Charlton manager first saved West Ham from relegation in the 2006/07 season before steering them to 10th last term.
"After we managed to stay up we were hoping to push on after last season, which we saw as a stepping stone," continued Noble. "But as players we have to get on with things now. It is important for us to get it sorted out sooner rather than later both for the club and the players.
"The most important thing is that in the game against West Brom the players put themselves about. We have to go out there and do what we have been doing since the start of the season. We have had our best start in nine years so hopefully we can keep that up and carry on."
West Ham United players had no inkling that Alan Curbishley's relationship with the club's board had become so strained and were kept in the dark about the clashes over transfer policy that culminated in his exit.
Indeed, the 50-year-old's resignation on Wednesday, on the back of West Ham's best start to a Premier League campaign in almost a decade, came as a complete shock to his former troops, Mark Noble has revealed.
The Under-21 midfielder, who strides out at Wembley on Friday for the first time as Stuart Pearce's team go in search of a draw against Portugal to ensure a play-off en route to next summer's European Championships, was having lunch when he first learned of the news on television.
The 21-year-old had been conversing with U-21 team-mate Steven Taylor about Newcastle's precarious situation when he suddenly saw his own club were the ones who had lost their manager.
"I was sitting down eating lunch and we were chatting about all the stuff about Kevin Keegan and that news popped up," he admitted. "I was talking to Tails [Steven Taylor] about what was going on at his club Newcastle and then I found out that I didn't have a manger.
"I've had some texts from team-mates - we have all been in touch wondering what is happening. They only know as much as I do. He is a proud man but I don't know what was going on. The only certainty is that we are going to have a manager, but I don't know who that will be."
Noble praised Curbishley's contribution to the club he had been in charge of since December 2006. The former Charlton manager first saved West Ham from relegation in the 2006/07 season before steering them to 10th last term.
"After we managed to stay up we were hoping to push on after last season, which we saw as a stepping stone," continued Noble. "But as players we have to get on with things now. It is important for us to get it sorted out sooner rather than later both for the club and the players.
"The most important thing is that in the game against West Brom the players put themselves about. We have to go out there and do what we have been doing since the start of the season. We have had our best start in nine years so hopefully we can keep that up and carry on."
Labels: England Under-21s, Mark Noble, Premier League, West Ham United
