Defender Collins is set to see his West Ham contract expire.
Former West Ham United striker John Hartson has slammed his old side’s treatment of James Collins on TalkSPORT and it was reported that the Hammers had axed the veteran defender by email.
It has been widely reported that the 34-year-old was told – via email – that he would be leaving the London Stadium to the dismay of Hammers fans after 11 years of service with the London club.
Collins has arguably enjoyed one of his best seasons in terms of form, though he has had to be patient with a number of niggling injuries hampering his progress under both Slaven Bilic and David Moyes.
The former Wales international’s current deal – worth £35,000 a week according to the Daily Star – is set to expire at the end of June and Hartson has criticised the Hammers board for their treatment of Collins.
“If it is true that they’ve sent him an email that is in poor taste because Ginge, as the West Ham fans will tell you, every time he put on that shirt he give his all,” Hartson said.
“He put his head in, he put his body on the line for over 10 years and I just think you’ve got to treat our long-serving players better than that. It’s not nice for James to finish that way and you’ve got to feel for him really.”
The 50-time Wales international made 16 appearances for the Hammers this season, but with the likes of Declan Rice, Reece Oxford, Winston Reid and Angelo Ogbonna on the books, his position may have become expendable.
It remains to be seen if the Hammers have actually decided to offload former Aston Villa and Cardiff City defender Collins, with a decision perhaps set to be made by David Moyes’ replacement.
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