'I Haven't Yet, But Will I?' No Answer. Thanks For Clearing It Up Pards.

Last updated : 04 September 2003 By Rob Cooper
Alan Pardew
He hasn't yet, but will he?
At last, he speaks! Alan Pardew has broken his week-long media silence and... completely failed to clear up the speculation linking him with a move to West Ham.

Today the rumours have been stronger than ever with some people suggesting that the Hammers are just hours away from formally unveiling Pardew as their boss. These rumours, Pardew has confirmed, are not true.

"The rumours going around that I have signed for West Ham are completely untrue," he said, speaking to the official site.

However, that is as much as the official site were willing to tell us. Has he been offered the job? Has he been in contact with the Hammers? If he hasn't signed yet, is he going to sign now? Who knows, until we do the story will continue to rumble along.

This afternoon's statement was infuriatingly brief, failing to allay fears that he will become the Hammers new boss. Despite the riddle we have been presented with, odds have risen considerably with Bryan Robson now the perceived favourite for the post.

Unless Pardew is prepared to officially deny an interest in the job, then Reading fans cannot sleep easy until West Ham announce their new man.

>WE'RE ON A SLIPPERY SLOPE
>MADEJSKI BLASTS PERSISTENT HAMMERS RUMOURS