Brady: Grant was given time (From Echo)

Brady: Grant was given time

4:37pm Thursday 19th May 2011 in West Ham

WEST Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady insists former manager Avram Grant was given every opportunity to succeed by the club in their failed bid to preserve their Barclays Premier League status.

The Hammers finally lost the fight to avoid the drop last Sunday with a 3-2 defeat against Wigan, having squandered a two-goal lead at the DW Stadium.

Grant then left his post an hour after the final whistle, but Brady maintains the club did everything they could to help the Israeli manager throughout the season.

"Avram was given the best possible conditions to do the job," Brady told The Sun.

"There were no silly targets set, no talk of Europe. We just said: 'Keep us up'.

"He was given extra training-ground staff and his personal needs met - including a driver, a new office and an upgraded expensive football analysis system.

"When things got tough, we backed him again.

"January signings like Wayne Bridge, Robbie Keane and Demba Ba saw us put our money where our mouth is. Again, no big names left the Boleyn.

"A good man, Avram was given every chance but he was sadly unable to deliver."