John Hartson is among the front runners to become one of the Hammers legends to join Slaven Bilic’s backroom staff.Various names such as Dean Ashton and David Cross have been mentioned and the manager has yet to make any decision on which former Hammers heroes he intends to sign up.
But Hartson and Ashton are among the favourites with the former Wales international a marginal favourite given he played with Slav in the ’96-’97 season.
His battling character which saw him score 24 goals in 60 appearances for the club is giving him an edge.
With Paul Kitson as his strike partner he helped lift the club from 18th, when he joined in February 1997, to 12th at the end of an unforgettable survival campaign.
He showed his courageous character in epic style during 2009 when after being diagnosed with testicular cancer which was reported to have spread to his brain and lungs he battled his way back to full health.
Now, many inside the club believe he could become a role model to the younger players whilst becoming an ideal replacement for departed attacking coach Teddy Sheringham.
Bilic still making all the right noises…this season is going to be great.
Maybe he could teach Carroll how to put himself about without falling apart.Hartson could go through brick walls 😉
And then say “where’s the next one then?”
No chance – next!
Hartson is tops, but I’d rather have Dean Ashton as attaing coach because he was a very intlligent striker, in he Sheringham mould. He would teach Carroll a lot more about link up play and positioning within the team.