They say sport and politics shouldn’t mix but we often hear football clubs’ intentions to do one thing before doing a complete u-turn. Just like politicians.

So when West Ham said they will back their manager Avram Grant until the end of the season at least, the Israeli knows he’s fighting for his job big time.

But in all honesty he can have few complaints if things don’t start looking up soon. A gap is beginning to open up between themselves and the teams above the relegation zone and although it’s far from a lost cause, there is enough to cause serious concern.

A new coach would have his own ideas and may not necessarily want the player or players brought in by his predecessor in what is known as Stephen Ireland syndrome.

In fairness to Grant is not the sole reason why West Ham find themselves in the position they’re in.

Under their previous manager, they weren’t doing too badly. Gianfranco Zola steered them to ninth in his first season and although they were in decline the following year – in part down to the board’s undermining of the Italian – he still kept them up.

Perhaps if they had concentrated on doing their job and allowed Zola to do his they wouldn’t be in the mess they’re in now.  Clearing it up is proving to be, so far at least, beyond Grant. What the club would give to finish 17^th this season.