OLD friendships will be put to one side when Wigan Athletic arrive at Upton Park tomorrow.

Latics manager Chris Hutchings became close pals with former team-mate of West Ham boss Alan Curbishley during the pair's playing days at Brighton and Hove Albion.

The relationship even stretched to former Charlton Athletic chief Curbishley allowing Hutchings to use the Addicks' training ground when his Bradford City side was playing away matches in London.

However, there was no sign of the Lancashire side at West Ham's Chadwell Heath base as the Irons boss prepared his side for their latest Premier League showdown.

"I know Chris quite well - I played with him at Brighton a long time ago," said Curbishley.

"He's done his apprenticeship, had one go at (Premier League management) before at Bradford and now it's his second time round and he feels better equipped for it.

"They've done a lot of business in the transfer market over the summer and he's had a good start.

"They got beat at Everton but they've picked up six points from their last two games, which was a big boost for everybody, and if they get a result on Saturday they stay up where they are."

While Hutchings remains the bookmakers' favourite to be the first top-flight manager to be sacked this season, his old chum believes the man who recovered from being sacked by Bradford after just 12 games to assist Paul Jewell for six seasons has what it takes to be a success.

"As soon as he took over, he was straight at it. He obviously knew what he wanted to do," added Curbishley.

"I think he can make the step up from number two. He's been at the club some time, the players know him and he's had a settled team.

"I hope he's a success - after this weekend."

While Hutchings cuts an unobtrusive figure, Latics chairman Dave Whelan became public enemy number two - after Sheffield United counterpart Kevin McCabe - among West Ham supporters this summer following his public outbursts over the Carlos Tevez affair.

The sports retail tycoon is not expected to be at the Boleyn Ground, but even if he is, Curbishley is not expecting his presence to cause any problems.

"When we played up there (in April, (chairman) Eggert (Magnusson) told me everything was civil in the boardroom.

"They made their statement quite a few times because they believed in it. It's a very emotive situation for the teams around it.

"If Dave Whelan does come to the game, I don't think there'll be any trouble at all. (If there is) I think he's got thick skin and won't bother him too much.

"This is a new season, and I think we've just got to get on with it."

West Ham: (from) Green, Wright, Walker, Neill, Spector, Pantsil, McCartney, Upson, Gabbidon, Ferdinand, Collins, Mullins, Noble, Bowyer, Ljungberg, Dyer, Etherington, Boa Morte, Cole, Zamora, Bellamy, Ashton