I’ve just come back from interviewing West Ham Chief Executive Scott Duxbury over lunch in Docklands. We covered a huge amount of ground and it is going to take some time to transcribe the interview, so you will have to be a little patient, especially as I am away most of the weekend. To give you a few tasters though, Duxbury…
* Details “The Project” – his vision for the club
* Believes we can win the league.
* Explains the full story of Zola’s capture and why he nearly didn’t sign
* Tells how the banks tried to force the sale of Scott Parker in January
* Reveals he nearly quit over the issue
* Says has been no contact with Carlos Tevez or his representatives over a return
* Is adamant that Dean Ashton will NOT be sold to Stoke
* Says Lucas Neill may well stay at the club
* Reveals a stonking half time entertainment plan for the Napoli game
* Tells why Jeremy Nicholas has a job for life
* Says Rob Green’s contract talks are on hold
* Says the club is looking to sell Davenport and Faubert
* Explains the kind of player the club wish to bring in over the summer
Enough to be going on with? But rest assured, there’s a lot more. I’m going to print the whole thing with no interpretation from me. It’s a word for word record of our 90 minute conversation. I have to say I have been impressed by Scott’s openness over the last six months. Ever since he came out fighting in the transfer window, he’s been like a breath of fresh air in his dealings with the media. Please don’t get the impression I speak to him often, or anything like that. I don’t. This was the second time I have met him, but I am impressed at his passion for his job, his vision for the future of the club (which he talks a lot about in the interview) and the clear glove in glove relationship he has with Zola.
OK, I have to write an article for the Independent on Sunday on gays in the Tory Party (!), and then I will wrap a cold towel around my head and start transcribing.
All sounds good stuff Iain,please don’t keep us waiting to long.
Thanks again for a great site.
Gays in the tory party? Is that allowed? (only joking Iain). Really looking forward to the interview, and I don’t know why but when you put down that Duxburry believes we can win the league I got a little shiver down me spine. Good work on the site, let’s hope we can convert you to Labour one day (I’m the one remaining voter they’ve got)
sounds like a great inteview. at least duxbury seems to be being more open and truthful with the fans at last!
WOW can’t wait!
You’re a legend Iain Dale. Best WH blog by a mile.
Can’t wait to read the full piece.
So does this mean that Green will be leaving?
One day soon, within the next 10 years we could win it. Its entirely probable.
the scott parker thing sounds interesting, bloody banks!!!
I, too, have been impressed with Duxbury ever since his declaration at the beginning of the transfer window last January.
I truly believe that with the current regime in place – from the Zola, Clarke, Nani and of course, duxbury, down to the medical team – exciting times lie ahead.
I trust you asked if he read this blog, Iain?
PS. My “project” is progressing well. I have set up a website (which already includes a link to here) but as I am currently tweaking stuff I won’t contact you again unitl I am 100% happy with it. I am getting very good feedback from fiends and fellow Hammers!
* friends – LOL.
Well done Iain; sounds like a good interview.
Can’t wait to read it. Cheers.
Iain,
I am looking forward to read the write up!. Well done Iain, we all cannot wait!!. Once again a excellent blog. It is the only one that I read outside of the offical website.
because you tell the fans what is what and no ballsh.t!!.
Devodevo how do we find your site ?
Iain,
Not wishing to bring up the past as I know we need to move on from the Tevez thing, but I’ve only got two questions I would love to ask SD if I ever got the chance:
1. Did we have to agree to enter the final arbitration proceedings with Sheff U or did we do it on the basis we thought we wouldn’t lose? An expensive mistake if it was the latter.
2. Why did we employ Kia J in an advisory role after his lawyer grassed us up?
Maybe someone already knows the answer to these but would be a useful one to raise if there is ever a Dale vs Duxbuy Part III.
Great work Iain, can’t wait to read it, hope we can hang on to Green your comment did not sound encouraging
E1 – I’m still honing it, although it is “live”.
Once I’m happy with the content, I’ll make sure you’re the first to hear about it!
So nothing we already new then,crumbs! dont like the Green comment,we must do everything to keep him at West Ham,he’s our star player!
A fair few of my fellow hammers would take good money for Ashton,I’m not to sure I would but last night the rumour that Ashtons struggling to recover surfaced again.At the boleyn tonight for a beer see you all there.
Cheers Devo
Agree with you regards the Green comment, chris. “On hold” sounds like we are a million miles apart to me.
If push comes to the shove, kick Lucas out to pay Green. Green’s indispensible IMHO.
DevoDevo,
I would be interested in reading your blog once you have finished it. Please let the fans on this blog informed.!!
Who needs kumb eh?
It’s not a blog, Richard, but I will let you all know once I’m happy with everything.
I like what I hear from Scott Duxbury, the club appears to be being run sensibly and progressively at last. The policy of trying these players out for a year with a built in option to purchase is brilliant and saves the possibility of wasting an awful lot of dosh.What a pity this wasn’t done with Faubert, and look how well it worked out with Illunga. Jiminez sounds like a terrific signing and if we can get Mancini as well, what a great team we will have to watch. Well done Scott Duxbury and the rest of the team.