Eggert Magnusson has brushed off speculation surrounding
the future of Alan Curbishley and backed his manager to lead West
Ham United to Premiership safety this season.
The Hammers boss has been the subject of tabloid rumours this week but has the full support of his chairman, who insists that he has the right man for the job.
"To put the record straight, Alan has my 100% backing," says Mr Magnusson. "He has had it since day one and he has it going forward. He is the right man for this job, and he will take us through this difficult stage. Talk of a three-game deadline is nonsense, I hope that Alan is here for the long-term.
"There is no question that the January transfer window helped to cement my relationship with Alan. We spent a lot of time here with my deputy Scott Duxbury - often until very late in the evening - sitting together and working out our plans.
"It was a learning experience for me, and I feel it made our ties that much stronger. I have experienced that life is not always easy, there are always difficulties to overcome, but the only way to get past them is to fight to turn them into advantages.
"That is how I have directed my life and that is what we will do at West Ham United."
Meanwhile, our Icelandic chief, who celebrates his 60th birthday today, also has a message for the Club's supporters, as we enter the crucial last 11 games of the campaign.
"I have nothing but praise for our supporters," he says. They are fantastic. The only thing I would ask is that you now stand firmly behind the players and management and give them 110% encouragement in the games that we must win in order to be where we are going to be next season...in the Premier League."
The Hammers boss has been the subject of tabloid rumours this week but has the full support of his chairman, who insists that he has the right man for the job.
"To put the record straight, Alan has my 100% backing," says Mr Magnusson. "He has had it since day one and he has it going forward. He is the right man for this job, and he will take us through this difficult stage. Talk of a three-game deadline is nonsense, I hope that Alan is here for the long-term.
"There is no question that the January transfer window helped to cement my relationship with Alan. We spent a lot of time here with my deputy Scott Duxbury - often until very late in the evening - sitting together and working out our plans.
"It was a learning experience for me, and I feel it made our ties that much stronger. I have experienced that life is not always easy, there are always difficulties to overcome, but the only way to get past them is to fight to turn them into advantages.
"That is how I have directed my life and that is what we will do at West Ham United."
Meanwhile, our Icelandic chief, who celebrates his 60th birthday today, also has a message for the Club's supporters, as we enter the crucial last 11 games of the campaign.
"I have nothing but praise for our supporters," he says. They are fantastic. The only thing I would ask is that you now stand firmly behind the players and management and give them 110% encouragement in the games that we must win in order to be where we are going to be next season...in the Premier League."