Curbishley: Hammers job a gamble, but lure was too strong

WEST HAM boss Alan Curbishley has told his new players he has no intention of going from an England candidate to a Coca-Cola Championship manager in just over a year.

Curbishley was unveiled as Alan Pardew’s successor on Wednesday after a self-imposed break from the game, and he admitted accepting the job was a gamble given their position in the bottom three of the Premiership.

He was not seen as a gambler at Charlton before his departure at the end of last season, but a steady reputation built over 15 years had him among those tipped to take over from Sven Goran Eriksson after England’s World Cup in Germany.