Di Canio’s presence lifts all but boss Grant

West Ham 3 Wigan Athletic 3

The Italian watched West Ham’s win over Wigan as he attended Upton Park to open the Paolo Di Canio lounge, and supporters sang his name repeatedly in homage to the man who was a hero in his four years at the club.

They had chanted it last week at Anfield, too, but that time in protest at the capitulation by their team and manager Avram Grant, who hardly cuts an inspirational figure.

Even when West Ham responded to the board’s call for SOS “Save Our Season” by seeing off fellow relegation strugglers Wigan with ease, Grant dismissed it as no more than a marketing ploy.

“I let them get on with marketing as long as it does not affect the team,” he said.

Whether Di Canio’s appearance was just about selling hospitality packages in his new lounge — at €120 per head, thank you very much —– or an opportunity for meaningful discussions on a much-mooted role for him as a coach at the club, no-one was saying, least of all Grant.

“He was a great player here and is always welcome,” said the Israeli. “If he can teach our players how to play like him, I would take him. But we want to build West Ham step by step and are looking for more specific coaches.

“In the future we will have coaches for every department — technical, tactical, mental, physical. Someone to work with the strikers and the midfielders and so on.

“It’s the future of the game. It happens in other sports, especially in America. Twenty years ago no-one had a goalkeeping coach. Now everyone has one.”

Grant is happy to delegate areas of responsibility rather than do it all himself, which is why he did not protest when the board brought in Wally Downes last week, after assistant manager Zeljko Petrovic left — jumped or pushed, whichever way you look at it.

Downes has huge experience of the English game, as one of the founder members of the Crazy Gang at Wimbledon, and knows all about building team spirit and player motivation, which are not exactly Grant’s strong points.

He was appointed with a specific brief to improve West Ham’s weak defence, but was cajoling all the players on Saturday as he patrolled the touchline, barking orders and urging them on.

“Wally did well, he’s passionate and he brought something new,” said Grant.

“He asked me before the game if he could shout and say whatever he wants. He has a specific job and he’s very happy, energetic.”

Even Downes could not guarantee a clean sheet, though, with Wigan’s Tom Cleverley curling a shot past Robert Green in the 85th minute.

By then West Ham were well on their way to only their second league win of the season, after goals from Valon Behrami, Victor Obinna and Scott Parker, the outstanding player once again.

Wigan’s cause was not helped when Mauro Boselli missed from the penalty spot, the Argentinian allowing Robert Green to make an easy save in the 62nd minute. Boselli had gone on as substitute only a few minutes earlier, but his manager Roberto Martinez had no regrets about giving him the responsibility. “Our two normal penalty-takers were not there and he had the confidence to take it,” he said.

But he admitted the striker, signed for £7m this summer, has struggled to adapt to English football. “He’s settling in but it’s very, very different to what he’s been used to. His goalscoring ratio at the highest level in Argentina is magnificent, with 50 goals over two seasons. ”

Martinez admitted his side, shorn of five players through injury and suspension, were not at the races on Saturday, but is still confident they can survive.

“It’s a matter of time before we get the scorelines that reflect our performances.”

Both sides have tough Carling Cup quarter-finals tomorrow, with Wigan travelling to Arsenal and West Ham facing Manchester United at home. “I might ask Alex (Ferguson) to do us a favour,” said Grant, who had something to smile about.