Writing was on the wall for Grant

Sacked manager Avram Grant has accused West Ham of offering his job to six other coaches during the team’s unsuccessful relegation battle.

Grant, 56, joined West Ham on a four-year deal in June 2010.

After a poor start to the season, the Israeli’s future became the subject of frequent speculation.

In January he was reportedly close to being replaced by former Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill.

Grant was ultimately unsuccessful in his battle to keep West Ham in the English Premier League.

They were relegated on Sunday after losing 3-2 away to Wigan, with the club’s owners apparently relieving Grant of his duties just minutes after the final whistle.

And now a close friend of the former Chelsea and Portsmouth boss has revealed Grant’s dissatisfaction with the state of affairs at the club under owners David Sullivan and David Gold.

“Avram points to January when Martin O’Neill was offered his job,” a source close to Grant was quoted as telling the Guardian.

“He says six managers were asked by the club to take over, including Steve McClaren and Sam Allardyce, but they would not do it because they knew the situation there.”

Grant also presided over financially-stricken Portsmouth’s relegation from the Premier League last season.

“He actually said that despite all the financial difficulties at Portsmouth, where players were not being paid and the club faced liquidation, that job was far easier than the West Ham one because he could concentrate on the on-field job,” the source said.

Grant was reportedly warned not to accept the West Ham job due to problems under the regime of Gold, Sullivan and chief executive Karen Brady.

The trio dismissed Gianfranco Zola at the end of the 2009/10 season, despite the Italian managing to keep West Ham in the top flight.

“Avram was advised not to take the job by several people in football but he wanted the challenge,” the source said.

“He feels almost from the moment he took over the situation was virtually impossible.”

“He regrets not checking out the club properly to find out the true situation about the budget. His vision was for the club to be a mini-Arsenal, developing their own players and style.”

“He knew it would be difficult in the first season, fighting relegation at the same time. But if he knew then what he knows now he probably would not have accepted the job.”