Hammers to remain in Austria

The West Ham first team will remain in their training camp in Bad Tatzmannsdorf, Austria this week until they travel directly to Slovenia to face NK Domzale in the capital city of Ljubljana at the 16,155-capacity Stozice Stadium.

The state of the art football camp facilities include a main pitch and an artificial pitch. The players are staying at the luxury Avita Resort hotel just next door.

The Hammers will make the 165 mile trip by coach for their first leg of the Europea League third qualifying round which will be played Thursday 28 July at 8.45pm CEST (7.45pm BST).

Rumours suggested Slaven Bilic decided to keep the first team squad in Austria because the facilities are so good but a club source close to the squad in Austria denied that saying it was always the plan.

The source told ClaretandHugh: “That has always been the plan! Staff and players to travel directly from Austria to wherever we drew.”