Hammers announce major signing “at 2.52pm”

Co chairman David Gold and David Sullivan’s son Jack have raced onto Twitter to declare that West Ham will make a major announcement on a new player signing before today’s game against Southampton.

Obviously expected to be Barcelona’s Alex Song, Gold said: “We have made a big signing who will be announced to the crowd before the game.”

And young Sullivan with more of a sense of melodrama said: “We have just made a big international signing. “He will be introduced at 2.52 pm today.”

ClaretandHugh had been told yesterday that a signing was imminent and that it was hoped nothing would go wrong between then and this afternoon.