Alan Curbishley has resigned from his post as West Ham United Manager after just twenty months in charge at the club. He becomes the first Premier League coach to leave his job this season after citing a lack of control over the club’s transfer policy.

The 50 year old replaced Alan Pardew in December 2006 and after a difficult start was able to dramatically save the club from relegation by beating Champions Manchester United on the final day of the season. Last season by comparison was largely uneventful as they maintained a mid table position. However, Curbishley had become under increasingly under pressure from the supporter’s for the team’s perceived negative style.

During this summer it became apparent that their had been a change of policy at the club as the likes of Freddie Ljungberg, Bobby Zamora and John Pantsil were allowed to leave with only Valon Brahami arriving.

It appears the enforced sales of Anton Ferdinand and George McCartney to Sunderland proved to be the catalyst for Curbishley’s decision. He said “The selection of players is critical to the job of the manager…However, the club continued to make significant player decisions without involving me. In the end such a breach of trust and confidence meant that I had no option but to leave”.