European way the future for English football, says Peter Grant

Sep 12 2008 By Chris Lepkowski

ALBION coach Peter Grant believes more clubs will end up adopting the European style of management following West Ham’s appointment of Gianfranco Zola.

The Italian was appointed earlier this week as successor to Alan Curbishley, who left Upton Park claiming that players were being sold without his say-so.

Grant, who was Alan Pardew’s No2 at West Ham, feels Zola’s arrival underlines the Hammers’ decision to maintain the European management structure where the traditional English ‘team manager’ effectively becomes a head coach and has less input into transfers.

Ex-Norwich boss Grant spent a lot of time abroad following his departure from Carrow Road last season and he feels that the European model can only work as long as the head coach does not get any interference from the board regarding team selection.

“It’s been interesting to see what’s been happening,” said Tony Mowbray’s first-team coach.

“We’re not used to that but abroad you do get the head coach - you don’t manage - and someone else brings the players in.

“You can turn up to the training ground and there will be a player you don’t even know but you have to try and coach those players.

“That’s the way we’re moving now and that’s what’s happened at West Ham.

“The new manager knows they have to play in a certain style and maybe that’s why they’re going European in the respect that these guys are used to dealing with the board bringing in players hence there will be an acceptance that that’s how they work.”

Grant claims Zola’s arrival will have little bearing on Albion’s preparation for tomorrow’s Hawthorns’ game.

The Scot still has fond memories of his two-and-a-half year period at West Ham, which only ended due to him taking the Norwich managerial vacancy.

“It’s a fantastic club, there is a lot of passion there,” added Grant.

“But we will focus on what we’re doing.

“That’s what we’ve done from day one. We prepare for West Ham and nothing changes for us.

“We know their principles and the way they play won’t change. The players are the same.

“Results wise we would have liked more wins and we deserve that. The fact we’re creating chances bodes well for us - we need to start putting those chances away. West Ham is a difficult fixture for us and we will be ready for it.”