Breaking news... Spurs & Orient win right to Judicial review.

As it has been made clear that promotion at the first attempt is the only thing that matters as far as the owners are concerned... I think we can safely say that both cup competitions will be out of bounds as far as the first team squad are concerned. this will be a perfect opportunity for the development squad to show their potential.

I dont think any of us are under any illusion as to what short, medium, and long term plans, our present owners have for the club.
In the short term it is imperative that the club returns to the Premier league as quickly as possible, certainly by the time we are due to move into the Olympic stadium. Sam Allardyce has been bought into the club specifically for that reason. Should he manage to get us back at the first attempt I am sure that he will be offered the chance to remain in charge at least until the move takes place.
Medium term plans are to see us established in the OS and to start reaping the financial rewards that should come from the increased profile the club will inevitably get from the move. It is of course important that we remain a Premier league club during that period, which unless he decides to move on himself, will probably still mean big Sam remaining at the helm.
Long term... Financial security, and challenging for domestic and European honours, under new and much higher profile ownership. at that point it's goodbye Sam. But first things first... Get out of the championship, and get the legal hurdles out of the way re: the OS. Because without both those things our future is bleak.

My top six. (In no particular order):

Leicester City.
Leeds United.
Ipswich Town.
West Ham United.
Derby County.
Reading.

I have said on here for a long time that the loan market is where we will do our best business this transfer window.. once the PL teams have sorted their 25 man squads.. I dont think that the loan window closes for championship teams until the end of September... I would not be at all surprised if the transfer of Scott Parker involves a loan player coming in our direction.

Just another mention on the Jordan Spence situation... A Bristol City website is saying that the club have paid a significent loan fee, and are paying his wages in full in order to get a whole season loan agreement that includes no call back arangement.... So perhaps the deal could be financial as well as tactical.

My spirits rose when I saw the headline that West Ham United had been totally exonerated in the OS corruption enquiry.. But they sank again when I saw that it was the inquiry put in place by West Ham United that reached that conclussion.... I will be much happier if the OPLC inquiry reaches the same conclussion.

With you all the way Tony_E and if this rumour became a reality the club would see a massive backlash from the fans... I for one would not put one brass farthing into the club as long as that animal was on the payroll.. lets hope that it is just a rumour.. It would help a lot if the club just denied it.

Before a player can add character to a club, he has to have character to give. El Hadj Diouf is a scum bag. All he will give to West Ham United is controversy at a time when we need stability. He is universely hated by fans and players alike, and is more likely to disrupt the dressing room than help to unite it... Also if he were to sign, I think the club would be surprised by how many fans would see that as the last straw.

My policy has always been not to pay any heed to rumours until they become reality, but in the case of El Hadj Diouf I will make an exception... Every fans blog and forum, and everyone that twitters, should leave the powers that be in no doubt how we feel about the man...If indeed he deserves to be called a man... He is a disgrace to his profession and he would drag the name of West Ham United deeper into the mud.... I want to hear David Gold tell us all that we will not be signing El Hadj Diouf..period.