Hammers ditch boss Grant

West Ham have parted company with manager Avram Grant in the wake of the club's relegation from the Barclays Premier League.

The Hammers went down after squandering a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 at fellow strugglers Wigan. And just over an hour later, a statement on the West Ham website confirmed the club had relieved the Israeli of his duties.

The statement read: "The club can confirm that Avram Grant is no longer the manager of West Ham United. First-team coach Kevin Keen will take charge of the team for the final home match of the season against Sunderland on Sunday 22 May."

Grant also suffered relegation last season when he was in charge of Portsmouth. Having resigned at Pompey, he took over at Upton Park last summer, signing a four-year deal.

West Ham are due to move to the Olympic Stadium once it is revamped as a combined football and athletics venue after the 2012 London Games.

The club's owners, David Gold and David Sullivan, appointed former Chelsea manager Grant in the hope he could establish West Ham as a Premier League force.

Players including Germany captain Thomas Hitzlsperger, Frederic Piquionne and Demba Ba were acquired, while the club backed Grant in the loan market by allowing him to bring in Robbie Keane, Wayne Bridge and Victor Obinna.

However the season began poorly and results have continued to be mostly dismal, despite fresh arrivals.

There was a short-lived revival when West Ham won three of five Premier League games from February 2 to March 5, including a memorable 3-1 home victory over Liverpool.

Sunday's defeat was a sixth in seven league matches for the London side, with relegation persuading the owners the time is right for a change as the npower Championship beckons.