The West Ham United co-chairman has clarified the club’s stance on Carr.
West Ham co chairman David Gold
West Ham United co-chairman David Gold has divulged the club’s stance on former ambassador Tony Carr on Twitter.
The Daily Mail reported on Tuesday that Carr had been made redundant by the Hammers, who he had served for over 40 years in various capacities.
Before taking on an ambassadorial role with the east Londoners two years ago, the 65-year-old was academy director at Upton Park.
In that role, Carr oversaw the development of Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick, Joe Cole, Jermain Defoe and Glen Johnson, who each went on to play for England and brought West Ham a combined £50 million in transfer fees.
Rio Ferdinand earned the Hammers a reported £18 million from Leeds United
His exit has therefore caused uproar among the Hammers faithful, but after being questioned by one on Twitter, Gold replied: “(He was) not sacked. Tony’s two-year, full-time ambassador contract came to an end. He declined an ongoing part-time role.”
He added, in a follow up tweet: “He’ll always be welcome at the Club.”
According to the Daily Mail, Carr is set to receive the statutory minimum redundancy payment of £14,000, which he decided to accept.
Tony Carr is leaving West Ham after 43 years
The former Hammers youth team player told the paper he was upset his exit had been handled entirely by the human resources department and not those higher up the chain, like Gold.
“I’m very disappointed because I still feel I’ve got a lot to offer and West Ham has become a way of life for me after all these years,” Carr said.
“The way it was done with people from HR, who have been here hardly any time at all, was particularly disrespectful in my opinion. But that’s the way of the world these days.”
Gold at West Ham’s new Olympic Stadium home
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