Curbishley accepts West Ham post

Charlton stalwart
Curbishley left Charlton Athletic FC in May after 15 years in charge and, despite being linked with several managerial positions, declared his intention to take a break from football. However, the chance to become the eleventh manager of a club where he spent four seasons as a player between 1975 and 1979 proved too good to turn down. Curbishley, who will be joined by his former Charlton assistant Mervyn Day at Upton Park, will lead West Ham for the first time in Sunday's English Premiership game at home to Manchester United FC. United were also the opposition in his last match with Charlton, a 4-0 defeat on 7 May.

'Deeply delighted'
"I'm deeply, deeply delighted and looking forward to the challenge," the 49-year-old Curbishley said. "It's a privilege to be here. I enjoyed my break but the potential here drew me in and I'm looking forward to lifting us out of the position we're in. I was very emotional when I left Charlton, they were a massive part of my life but it had to come to an end and I'm entering into a new period. I never really fulfilled my potential here as a player so hopefully I can do a bit better as a manager."

Losing streak
Pardew was dismissed on Monday after three years at the helm, having guided the east London outfit to promotion to the Premiership in 2005 as well as to this year's FA Cup final. Although the latter ended in defeat against Liverpool FC, West Ham had some consolation in the shape of a place in the 2006/07 UEFA Cup. That campaign proved short-lived, however, as US Città di Palermo ran out 4-0 aggregate winners in the first round. Third-from-bottom West Ham have lost eleven of 17 Premiership matches this term and Saturday's 4-0 reverse at Bolton Wanderers FC precipitated the demise of Pardew.