West Ham’s new owners, former Birmingham City co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold have made countless headlines as since taking over two weeks ago.   Playing staff, non-playing staff, the club’s future home, and even its name have all been caught up in the publicity.   Chairman Sullivan announced West Ham’s intention to land a “£100,000-per-week” striker as the Hammers caught up on transfer window shopping.

The cash-strapped East London outfit were unsurprisingly unsuccessful but also failed to land former Chelsea striker Eidur Gudjohnsen.

The 31-year-old Icelander had a medical at Upton Park – usually a late stage of a transfer – before moving to North London rivals Tottenham.

They were, however, able to sign Blackburn Rovers’ unsettled South African striker Benni McCarthy, Egyptian frontman Mido and Brazilian Ilan from French club St. Etienne the latter two on-loan.

Former Spurs man Mido has accepted a weekly wage of £1,000, which Sullivan, who this week claimed a salary cap would alleviate football’s economic crisis, described as “one of the most amazing deals of all time.”

McCarthy has signed a four-year deal and should be available for the Hammers vital trip to fellow Claret-clad relegation strugglers Burnley this Saturday. The fee is officially “undisclosed” but has been widely reported as £2.5m.   Karren Brady, former Birmingham managing director, has joined West Ham as vice-chairman. And Hammers chief executive Scott Duxbury has resigned.   Duxbury claimed “the time is right for me to pursue other opportunities,” especially as his opportunities at Upton Park would be limited with Brady around. But he was reportedly unhappy at some of the cost-cutting measures introduced by Sullivan.

 

These have included sacking club “ambassadors” Tony Cottee and Tony Gale, both on £40,000-a-year and suspending defender Calum Davenport’s £20,000-per-week wages until his court case is resolved.

Davenport is accused of assaulting his sister in an incident which saw him stabbed in both legs. He is consulting his union and the Premier League over the matter.

The new regime want to take over Stratford’s Olympic Stadium after the 2012 games, despite the Olympic authorities expressed wish to maintain the stadium as an athletics venue.

Sullivan dismissively said: “He (Lord Coe, the Olympics chief) can have an athletics track elsewhere. The bigger dream is for West Ham fans to have a football stadium.”

Brady suggested that the Hammers could also be renamed “West Ham Olympic”, leaving the club with the acronym “WHO.”

Saturday’s vital EPL trip to Burnley sees Sullivan and Gold in search of their first win, having watched two draws since their takeover, a goalless stalemate at home to Blackburn after a 1-1 draw at bottom club Portsmouth.

West Ham currently lie 15^th in the EPL, above the relegation zone on goal difference and one point ahead of Saturday’s opponents.

With international striker Carlton Cole approaching full fitness, manager Gianfranco Zola has three options for his two striking berths, Cole, McCarthy and 18-year-old Frank Nouble, who has impressed in recent first-team outings.

Cole said of Nouble: “He has done a great job considering his inexperience.”