SSN this morning breaking news: Genoa striker Ze Eduardo having a medical ahead of a loan move to Whu. My understanding is that Jelavic is top target with Ze Eduardo as a guaranteed back up soloution. If we fail to sign Jelavic, we will look at a permanent deal elsewhere.

We were given a statement from the owners last week to expect at least one or two important signings within 48 hours. That has passed and still nothing. Why, I hear you all ask. Well here is the latest update on what has been going on…

West Ham had agreed a deal at the start of the weekend to take striker Eder on loan from Academica de Coimbra. However, this collapsed after West Ham United officials flew out to Portugal to discuss terms which the player failed to agree. That deal for now…is dead.

We then had Jelavic. So much has changed regarding his departure from Rangers this year. West Ham firstly had a bid rejected for the player. They have since returned with a fresh offer which Rangers were pleased with and prepared to accept. The player was then due to undergo a medical either today or tomorrow and would then discuss terms. However CSKA and Everton, alerted to this, and entered the race to sign him. This, therefore, led to Rangers stopping any deal so that they can evaluate all offers on the table before making any decision. West Ham have set a deadline until tomorrow evening for Rangers to give us an answer regarding Jelavic. However, many reports across Twitter are stating that a bid from Everton has been accepted.

Then there was Tevez. I was informed of dramatic events inside the West Ham Camp on Saturday that a deal was extremely close for Tevez to return. I was told that his wage was the ultimate stumbling block and that if anything would prevent the deal, it would be due to his wage demands. However, Tevez has consistently stressed his desire to return to West Ham for the remainder of the year before he can leave England for good in the summer. Many reports then circulated because of what Tevez’s advisor said on any deal, claiming that it would not happen. However, I would seriously watch this one carefully right up until the 11pm deadline. Tevez wants football but Manchester City are not keen on sending him out on loan and would much rather get rid of him permanently. Though, with Tuesday deadline fast approaching and with West Ham still in desperate need of a new striker, a shock could still be on the cards. I will say no more.

There have also been reports suggesting that West Ham may end any pursuit of players until the Summer. This is not the case. DS and DG will work tirelessly until the window slams shut Tuesday night to get players in who will improve the club and our chances of promotion.

Not long left now, keep your eyes peeled at all times. I will post updates as and when I receive them along with the goings on from the media.

Bradley Palmer

Naturally, all fans are anxious to see the club bring in quality players, improve the team and drive up performance.  This anxiety has intensified since the two transfer windows were introduced, especially in the PL.  At least in the Championship, there is still the loan system to fall back on for a period, after the window closes.  This window has been incredibly frustrating for everyone and I really do believe that the club have not exactly helped themselves by under bidding for players, going in low and losing the early initiative.  I accept that January is a difficult time to do deals and that you generally have to pay over the odds, but we know that from previous seasons.  Surely, there are two interconnected points here.  Firstly, get the majority of your business done in the summer and, secondly, only fall back on the January window if forced to by results or if a particularly good player becomes available.

Anyone who has read my blog posts will know that I am not a ‘Gollivan’ basher.  I try to give a fair and even handed assessment, recognising when they do well (i.e. like in last January’s transfer window) and constructively criticising where I thnk it is merited (i.e. the fact that they needed to ‘pull it out of the bag’ last January, because they failed to do the business necessary the previous summer!).  While maintaining that their approach to transfer business has hitherto not particularly helped us in this window, I also fully accept they have worked hard on the transfer front, but perhaps we might have had better results if they had worked differently.  Of course, I do not exactly know, aside from the usual speculation, what our transfer budget actually is or what financial pressures they face.  Is it £10M as has been stated? Although what many fans tend to forget is that most transfer deals are not straight cash up front, but an initial payment, followed by structured instalments over a specified period.  So, £10m can stretch further than one would suppose if the deals are structured appropriately.  Perhaps one of the problems with the Jelavic deal is that Rangers need the majority of the fee up front, which does not suit present West Ham’s purposes.  Personally, I would have tried to tempt them with another player in part-exchange. Why not try to include both Piquionne and Faubert in the deal, especially if we can sign Snodgrass from Leeds Utd to play on the right-hand side of midfield? 

The other alleged fact, which is admirable if true, is that the co-owners are putting up the transfer funds themselves, to avoid more debt being loaded on the club, that’s if the banks would even allow it to happen in the first place.  In all probablity the club’s owners are neither ‘Gollivan’ nor the totally selfless ‘white knight’ saviours of the club.  The truth is probably lies somewhere in the middle and that requires even handed analysis, not crude polemics and extreme black and white contrary views, which attempt to portray them as either ’altrustic saviours’ or ‘pantomine villans.’   In my view, there is no doubt they do have the best interests of the club at heart, that is why they bought the controlling stake in a club that even Tony Fernandes admitted was tottering on the brink of insolvency.  However, although the short-term financial prospects were not great, there was no doubt that there were also real opportunities inherent in the commercial activities and expanded revenue potentially available via the OS move; as well as the receipts from the sale of Upton Park.  Although reports would seem to indicate that the new OS procurement process renders those self same commercial opportunities far less attractive to the club, which is undoubtedly a problem for the owners and, potentially, the long-term development of the club.  It remains to be seen whether the club and Newham Council can win key concessions that render the contract more attractive.

Anyway, I am also keen to see a couple of good quality additions, or even one excellent signing, because of the psychological lift it can give the playing staff and, indeed, the whole club.  The current squad are doing the business. We are where we should be at this stage of the season, although we could realistically have been in a much stronger position but for a few unfortunate results.  But I feel that the squad and the fans could do with a psychological lift to power us over the promotion finishing line in April/May.  One of the best ways of doing that is bringing in new blood, fresh players and application.  And the better the quality of the player(s) the better.  It lifts he squad, increases competition and gives out clear a message about ambition.  Do you remember the lift that Kevin Nolan’s signing gave everyone in the summer, do you remember the buzz that Dean Ashton’s signing created in January 2006 and older fans will recall the fanastic boost that the capture of Phil Parkes from QPR, gave us all, in 1979?  Although the classic psychological boost was probably Ted Fenton’s signing of Vic Keeble from Newcastle Utd in 1957-58, a player who was the final peice in a jig saw that saw West Ham transformed from a very good team in to an excellent promotion winning side that also finished sixth in the old First Division the following season. 

I would love to see us land a quality player to create something like the same psychological boost and, of course, improved quality in the squad.  Belief is an important factors in sports psychology and I have the feeling that we may have suffered a little in that department this season, probably a residual hangover from last season’s struggles?  Although we are exactly where we need to be in the league, you cannot escape the conclusion that this squad, man for man, is the strongest in the Championship and we rightly should be in more comfortable position at the top of the league, regardless of how surprising well Southampton have played.   In terms of timing, this stage of the season is the perfect juncture to move up the gears and put the gas peddle to the floor.  An excellent transfer deal or two might be just the way to help bring that about.

ps.  I originally drafted this blog post early on Saturday, before I was aware that Braderz had broke the Tevez loan deal story.  That would perfectly illustrate the positive transfer effect, and be a huge psychological boost for all connected with the club, in the crucial run-in to the season.  A 75%  match fit Tevez, initially, playing 45 minutes a game would be enough to have a massive positive impact in this league!  Lets pray it happens. If it does not, lets hope that they have another transfer card concealed up their sleeve?

SJ. Chandos. 

I want to address the subject of destructive criticism on this site. It seems to me that there are one or two contributors to this blog that think that the writers are easy targets for their nasty and snidey comments. Well we are not. If you want to engage in that type of thing then go elsewhere. The latest nastiness is exemplified in the comments about Braderz’s transfer updates, which are totally unwarranted. Braderz, very much like myself, dedicate our own time to write for the blog. We are not paid, we volunteer our time because we love West Ham, respect our fellow Hammers and want to create a quality forum and ongoing diaogue in which everyone can engage. If you disagree with a point I or anyone else makes, then great. I do not expect everyone to agree with me, far from it. But please put your counter views in a respectful way, stating why you disagree and underpin it with the recognition that fans do have contrary opinions and there is no need to go to war over it. Especially as we are all Hammers fans, after all.  As for me, I am excellent at polemic and could engage in it very effectively here if I so choose, but I do not. I would not do that with fellow Hammers supporters. That would not be right or fair in my book.

Unfortunately, it is the nature of the web that there is a tendency for a minority of internet warriors to resort to ’key board warfare,’ displaying their psychological inadequacy in the process. All websites suffer from it to a degree. Thankfully, they have always been the very notable, if noisy and troublesome, minority on this site. Yes you get people with an axe to grid, or bearing personal grudges for past perceived slights, but that is part and parcel of being a blogger I am afraid to say. And as someone very perceptibly stated on here recently, criticism often says more about those making the critcism than those who are the intended target. I have had the absolute nonsense about the length of my posts, but my view is this is what I want to write, if you enjoy it great, if you do not like it, tough! To be honest, I regularly read over the comments, taking on board good points and just ignoring destructive or personally motivated spite. The former deserves due consideration and the latter does not merit even a minute of my time.

It is my observation that this blog is a bit like Machiavelli’s theory of the cyclical degeneration/regeneration of the republican form of government. Over a period of time, standards degenerate and the noisy/destructive elements become more prominent and eventually something has to be said and standards restored. At the heart of that regenerative process is an authoritative assertion of what is and is not acceptable, but ultimately it depends for success upon the vast majority of decent contributors speaking up, maintaining standards and preserving the essential quality of this blog, which is arguably what makes it stand out.

You enjoy WHTID because of that quality. Now is the time for all good contributors to come to the aid of their favourite blog and preserve it as a forum for respectful, intelligent and high quality discussion of all things concerning the object of our common affection, West Ham Utd FC!

SJ Chandos

Paolo is doing a fabulous job at Swindon. THIS article in the Telegraph today is a fantastic read and just shows what a character he still is. On the evidence so far, I really can see Paolo becoming West Ham manager sooner or later.

Keep this to yourselves…. shhhh … but I wrote to Paolo yesterday. I sent him a copy of my WEST HAM: WHEN FOOTBALL WAS FOOTBALL book and asked if he would consider letting my publishing company translate and publish his 2005 Italian autobiography Il Ritorno, which has never appeared in English. I’ll let you know when and if I gget a response! But you all have to promise to buy it…

Well, I suggested it in the post below, and if Bradley’s recent tweets have some substance, we could soon be some very happy Hammers… Here is what he has just tweeted. Perhaps if some people on this site hadn’t been so vile to Bradley he might have written it here instead. Some people should think on that…

Ladies and Gentlemen and West Ham fans, I promised big news by the weekend which was being kept quiet by my source…well here it is.. WHU are extremely, and I mean extremely, close to a short term loan deal for Mr. Carlos Tevez. The newspapers seem to have got to this first and I had to ask for obvious reasons of pure excitement. This has all occurred after Tevez realised earlier on in the week his permanent move away was not going to be on the cards and City didn’t want to loan the player abroad. WHU have now revised and jumped at a chance of a short term loan deal and has stated on many occasions that he would jump at the chance of a short term return to WHU. The stumbling block at the moment is his wage package and WHU are currently negotiating a deal that suits all parties. This has legs guys and there is a chance that we may see Tevez return to our claret and blue. Wow!! I’m still staggered by it all myself. For those interested if this effects the Jelavic deal, I can confirm that it won’t as Jelavic is part of our long term plans whereas Tevez would be short term to get WHU back where we belong. Rangers are likely to announce at some stage today or tomorrow wether our new offer has been successful or not. Madness at WHU Camp!!

Well, if Gold and Sullivan pull this one off, even AussieGraham might have to revise his opinion of them.

* So, Mr Jelavic is ‘ill’ and won’t be turning out for Rangers today. Yeah, and Harry Redknapp can’t write. Well, if I read that correctly he might be on his way to East London for a medical. Let’s hope we have some good news later on. Two days ago the club website said they expected to report a significant signing in the next 48 hours. Time up! Presumably if we sign Jelavic that will put the kybosh on the Jordan Rhodes transfer. It seems impossible that we’d be able to finance both without offloading Carlton Cole. And Cole, to his credit, has made clear he wishes to stay. I only hope that if we do sign Jelavic that M. Piquionne is thrown in as part of the deal. I imagine we’d still have to pay part of his wages, but anything to get him off the books.

* Now this next bit of speculation is, I admit, pretty far fetched, but have any of you thought of the possibity of Carlos Tevez coming back to us for the rest of the season in a last minute loan agreement? Inter Milan say his transfer deal is ‘dead’. I haven’t seen any other suitors after him. I wonder, I just wonder… I’ve now woken up…

* In other speculation we are rumoured to be interested in former Arsenal and Birmingham midfielder Alexander Hleb. I can’t think why. He’s at Wolfsburg on loan at the moment but has only played 4 games, according to Wikipedia. What would he give us that we don’t have already?

* Many of you have already celebrated the departure of Herita Ilunga. What short memories we have. When he first joined us he was brilliant, but it seems to me that Grant and Allardyce managed to shoot his confidence to pieces. I, for one, wish him well.

* Liam Ridgewell is a player many of you fancy seeing in a West Ham shirt. He can play in defence and midfield and is a solid performer. If we can get him for a reasonable sum, I’d say he would be worth trying for. He will be well know to Messers Gold, Sullivan and Brady so if we don’t go for him, presumably they have got a good reason. He was rumoured to be going to Wigan or WBA but it never happened.

* Former West Ham goalkeeper Roy Carroll has joined Olympiakos. Which is nice.

* QPR are said to be interested in Wigan’s Victor Moses. Shouldn’t we be?

From The Independent

There can hardly be any footballer, from any era, who gave more loyal service to one club than did Ernie Gregory to West Ham United. As a big, dominant, charismatic goalkeeper he was a linchpin of the Upton Park side for a dozen seasons in the middle years of the 20th century, a reassuring and often inspirational influence as the Hammers won the Second Division title in 1958.

Later he served West Ham as a coach, offering sage guidance to fine keepers such as Phil Parkes and Mervyn Day, and even after his 1987 retirement brought an end to his remarkable 51-year official tenure at the club, he was a regular visitor at the Chadwell Heath training ground, keeping an eye on the new generation of young keepers and delivering typically shrewd scouting assessments.

Though necessarily athletic, Gregory wasn’t an overtly spectacular performer; rather he specialised in canny positioning and safe, unshowy handling. He was unfailingly courageous, too, in an era when referees offered goalkeepers scant protection from fearsomely brawny centre-forwards, the likes of Trevor Ford, Derek Dooley and Nat Lofthouse, who seemed to bounce off him like lightweights when they encountered his muscular frame.

As a boy Gregory was a promising boxer, and on the football field he was a defender, but one day his goalkeeper brother Bob broke his leg and Ernie took his place between the sticks. Thereafter he progressed to the West Ham Boys side, for whom he was playing in the English Schools Trophy final in 1936 when he was spotted by the Hammers manager Charlie Paynter.

He was approached, too, by Arsenal and Sunderland, but he was an east Londoner to his boots and never contemplated joining anyone but West Ham, which he did that year. While still unpaid he helped local amateurs Leytonstone to win the Isthmian League title in 1938, then turned professional with the Hammers in 1939.

Aged only 18 at the outbreak of the Second World War, Gregory served in the Essex Regiment, also finding time to make half a century of appearances for the Hammers in unofficial emergency competition. Having lost the first half of his twenties to the conflict, he made his senior debut in a 4-1 Second Division victory over Plymouth Argyle in December 1946, and by season’s end he was the club’s first-choice goalkeeper, a position he retained, injuries permitting, until 1959.

For much of that period West Ham, managed from 1950 onwards byTed Fenton, were a moderate Second Division side, despite the presencein their rearguard of such luminaries as Malcolm Allison, Noel Cantwelland John Bond, and they owedplenty to Gregory’s heroics for keeping them buoyant.

There was no shortage of observers, especially in the East End, who maintained that he should be rewardedby full caps. But he was unable to oust such formidable rivals as Manchester City’s Frank Swift, Bert Williamsof Wolves and the Birmingham City man Gil Merrick, though he was granted one outing for England ‘B’, against France in 1952.

In 1957-58, during which he entered his 37th year, Gregory was still at the top of his game as the Hammers lifted their divisional title, and he remained a major force as Fenton’s side performed wonders by finishing sixth in the First Division. However, that spring he lost his place to the talented young Irishman Noel Dwyer and he made the last of his 406 senior appearances in a 2-1 home defeat by Leeds United in September 1959.

At that point, extraordinarily, Gregory was less than halfway through his tenure with the Hammers, whom he served as a coach for the next 28 years, through the managerial regimes of Ron Greenwood and John Lyall, helping with the development of, for example, the club’s trio of World Cup heroes, Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters. He offered experience, continuity and wisdom to wave after wave of Upton Park hopefuls, while setting a peerless example of integrity and simple dignity – and, frequently, entertaining them with his infectious brand of humour. He was summed up admirably by one of his star pupils, the England goalkeeper Phil Parkes, who described his mentor as the greatest servant West Ham have ever had.

Ernest Gregory, footballer and coach: born Stratford, London 10 November 1921; played for West Ham United 1946-60; married (wife deceased, and one daughter, deceased); died 21 January 2012.

Update 21:44: Confirmation of Jelavic bid being rejected on SSN. Am told a new offer will go in though and that the player himself has threatened a transfer request to push the deal through. So much info flying about and also so much news Im being sent all the time. I personally can’t wait now for the end of the window. Has been incredibly frustrating for all involved, especially the owners. Credit to them though, they keep plugging away and are hopeful a deal can be sorted soon. Have also been told to expect a big announcement by the weekend. Honestly could be anything. Time will tell. Now then…time for a lie down!!!

Follow this forum for updates throughout today on transfer news surrounding Whu:

Early Update 7:15: “Negotiations for Jelavic are extremely close, DS is very hopeful he can conclude a deal soon” Received this info 1st thing this morning along with…

Early Update continued 7:16: “A bid is likely to go in for Snodgrass today after positive talks with LUFC yesterday”

Adzman ClungeWhu has just now tweeted: “Jelavic interview in Scottish press states he would join Whu no problems. Trying to encourage a sale.”

Followed by another tweet saying: “Rangers want him to put in a transfer request and the deal will happen. 7.5 mil fee will seal the deal”

Hopefully we will start making some overdue progress on our transfer targets, with the news of bids for McGugan and Jelavic.  However, I have to say that I  have become increasingly frustrated by the club’s approach to securing its transfer targets in this January window.  Rather than going in with a firm and realistic bid to secure the players at the first time of asking, the club appear to bid low and then follow it up with an increased offer.  By the time we increase the offer other clubs are alerted and/or the owning club decide to play ‘hard ball’ and increase the price tag to promote an auction.  That is exactly what happened with our bids for both Rhodes at Huddlesfield Town and Sordell at Watford.  While the club were openly talking openly about their interest in Jelavic at Rangers, prior to even submitting a firm bid, Sam Allardyce was quoted as confirming that he wants Jelavic, but accepted that PL clubs were also interested and that we were likely to lose out  to their greater financial resources.  Some recent reports indicate the Liverpool are  in pole position and others suggest that they are not interested in the player.  You choose which version to believe.

Now, as much as we may long for the ‘cloak and dagger’ transfer deals of the John Lyall era, we must concede that we now live in very different times.  John Lyall did not have to cope with the type of saturation sports media coverage that we have now, nor clubs and agents opportunistically leaking transfer interest/bids, with a view to generating additional interest and a possible auction.  However, surely the club should at least  try to move more decisively to secure their transfer targets.  We have vacilliated in bidding for both Rhodes and Sordell and submitted bids that were clearly insufficient to clinch a deal.  Maybe, an early,firm c.£5m bid for Jordan Rhodes might have tempted Huddesfield’s board, while a c. £3-4m bid would most probably have secured Sordell at the first time of asking.  Similarly, we should have made an up front,  £5m take it or leave it bid for Jelavic early doors, before the Liverpools of this world had time to move. The latest development is that we have now allegedly turned our attention to securing Lewis McGugan, with a £3m bid and the Jelavic speculation still continues.

On the other side of the transfer equation, it is excellent news that James Tomkins has signed a new contract.  It is likely that sources in the North-East have been putting out disinformation about Tomkins being unsettled and submitting a transfer request.   This will hopefully put a stop to all that nonsense, as long as Tomkins returns to the PL with West Ham in April/May.  If not, then you can be sure Newcastle Utd and Spurs will come calling again in the summer and it will be that much more difficult to resist their financial overtures.  We must also secure Rob Green on a new contract.  It is unlikely that he will sign prior to us securing promotion, but as soon as that is confirmed we need to secure his signature on much improved terms.  It is far smarter to do that, than potentially spending far more in fees and wages to secure a keeper of a similar pedigree.

Once promoted, we must build our squad around the likes of Tomkins, Noble, Collison, Nolan, Demel, Taylor, Cole, Baldock and Green.  We have a good core around which to rebuild for the PL, although the likes of Diop, McCartney, Faye and Carew may well need replacing in the summer.  Others such as Faubert have fallen short at the top level and should definitely be sold/moved on in the summer.  The club also need to make decisions soon on the likes of Sears, Fry, Spence, Brown and Nouble. Are they going to make the grade at West Ham?   Thankfully, we have some extremely good prospects in Montano, Moncur, Potts and Hall; plus the outstanding younger generation below them, such as Voce, Elliott Lee, etc, who should also be that bit nearer, next season, to challenging for first team football. 

As for Saturday’s match against Notts Forest, well thankfully we got the three points again.  But the actual performance left something to be desired on a number of levels.  Apart from late in the second half, our passing was pretty dire, we lacked creativity going forward and some of the players looked like they had just met prior to kick off!  We were so poor at times, that we made Notts Forest look a good team and that takes some doing.  I suppose, like Sam Allardyce in his post-match interview, we can comfort ourselves with the fact that we are winning matches, while playing  poorly.  The fact that we are now  leading the Championship, and there is a four point advantage over Cardiff City, in third,  is also a comfort.  It is just a pity that Cardiff City got that last minute winner, on Saturday, or the gap would have been an even healthier six points.  We might also take Jack Collison’s optimistic view that we are leading the Championship and have not yet got out of first gear!  Collison was reported as going on to state that it was scary what West Ham could achieve once they get in top gear.  Agreed Jack, but surely now is the time to stop talking about it and for the team to actually achieve it! 

The bright spots on Saturday were the individual performances of Tomkins, Noble, Collison and Baldock, who all did well in a very disjointed team performance.  Carlton Cole worked hard, but he should be scoring more goals at this level.  Similarly, the Cole-Baldock striking partnership should have gelled by this stage of the season.  They should be supplying the goals to fire our promotion challenge, but it is just  not happening at the moment.  It is sobering to consider that we have won the last two matches with three penalities!  It was good to see Henri Lansbury back and I feel that he has a lot to offer in the remainder of this season.  He was particularly unlucky not to score with that excellent half volley in the 2nd half.  While the return of Matt Taylor cannot come quickly enough as far as I am concerned.  We look a far better, and more balanced, side with Taylor on the left flank.  Lets just hope that he can shake off his injury problems once and for all, and the same also applies to the formidable Guy Demel at right back.

Well done to Leicester City for defeating Southampton on Monday evening.  Have the wheels started to fall off the Saints band wagon?  I have been predicting that they would slip up all season and was starting to think that it might not happen.  And it still might not, remember that they still have Lambert to come back in their team!  Crucially, we are now top by three points  and the objective must be stay ahead and take the title.  As such, now would be an excellent time for the team to finally click and fulfill their true potential.  Hopefully, some good quality additions will help bring that about.  Apart from the interest in Sordell, McGugan and Jelavic, it is interesting that Snodgrass’s contract negotiations with Leeds Utd have reportedly broken down.  Snodgrass, along with King at Leicester City, is one of the best midfielders in the Championship and both players could perform at PL level. 

Finally, it was very sad to learn of the passing of Ernie Gregory.  Ernie was, of course, one of the greatest ever Hammers keepers (probably second only to Phil Parkes)  and will always be remembered for being the last line of defence in Ted Fenton’s famous 1957-58 2nd division winning side.  After retiring, he joined the coaching staff  and become probably the first specialist goal keeping coach, a position that is now standard at all top clubs.  In that role, he coached generatons of Hammers custodians and was a respected and much loved figure at the club.  He is a true Hammers legend and the club should commission something appropriate to honour and celebrate his decades of first class, loyal service to the club.  So how about it, Messrs Sullivan and Gold, after all are we ever likely to see that type of dedicated, one club service again?  I think we all know the answer to that one!

SJ. Chandos

Update Tuesday 23:03: Expect developments on Snodgrass and McGugan very soon…

UPDATE: I am being told that Rangers are satisfied with our offer for striker Jelavic. We await official confirmation that bid has been accepted and I will give full details of bid as and when I know. Ohh and 2-0 to Leicester. Lets hope its more of the same in the second half.

Apologies for not posting updates over the weekend. I have been busy with work and what not but here is the latest update from myself and across the net. Feel free to follow me on twitter: bradley_whufc… I am constantly on there giving updates from the info I am sent. I would firstly like to say that I can fully understand and respect everyone’s opinion of the news I am receiving but would just like to state that at no stage is my information made up just to get people’s hopes up. Some prefer to believe it when they see it, others get excited and follow updates throughout each day. I am only giving information that I am sent, which is often highly reliable. Yes, some of it will be far fetched but it is often very accurate. I was informed about Nolan joining very early on before he did and did not fully believe it until it happened. Others like Ilan, Reid and Barrera I have often mentioned early doors as they seemed more likely. All I am doing is giving out information I am told along with what is on the net to keep everyone fully up to date.

Anyway here it is: I have been made aware at midday today that a bid has been submitted for Jelavic after long discussions on availability over the weekend and would just like to clear up the situation for you all. Rangers are in serious trouble and are close to administration and need to sell their players this window to prevent this from happening. The story today of Jelavic’s “alleged” dad was completely false and Liverpool have today distanced themselves away from any deal. It is thought it was a publicity act to gain a wider range of interest. However, I have been made fully aware that it is only West Ham that have shown an interest and enquired about his availability. After long discussions, a bid today has gone in for the player who in fact I’m led to believe is keen to join us as an ex player of ours, Bilic, has highly recommended him to join us stating that it would be a big step in the right direction for his career. If the bid is accepted, as we are currently awaiting an answer, then and only then will the player travel to East London to have a medical, hold talks and discuss personal terms despite Sky saying there were issues with his wages. Jelavic is currently on approximately £15k a week at Rangers and it is thought that we will be able to match and improve on this amount for him to sign. Am also awaiting to see if Piq or Sears are involved in the bid that has been made today. Hope that clears it up.

Secondly, I have confirmation that an offer of £3m has been sent to the office at Nottingham Forest for playmaker Lewis McGugan. It is thought that he impressed Big Sam on Saturday after a great showing and a wonder goal which has led the owners into making an offer for his services this afternoon. It is also thought that Nottingham Forest are tempted to sell due to their financial state and need of funds to buy in other areas. Keep a look out for this one.

The bidding war for Watford striker/winger Sordell seems to have forced West Ham into looking elsewhere (McGugan), though they are still trying to lure Watford into selling their prized asset to us. Only time will tell on this one.

With regards to outgoings, not much is going on. We are hoping to sell both Piquionne and Sears, though both are refusing to leave at this moment in time.

As always, any news I will update as soon as I can. Many thanks,

Bradley Palmer (Braderz)