Hammers bring in Grant for Goddard

West Ham today appointed Peter Grant as first team coach to replace the sacked Paul Goddard.

Manager Alan Pardew has moved immediately to bring in the 38-year-old, who leaves his job as assistant manager of Second Division Bournemouth.

Grant played under Pardew at Reading after a career at Celtic spanning more than 500 matches. After leaving Scotland he played for Norwich then Reading before joining Bournemouth as a playercoach.

Goddard's departure is the most recent in a regime of change under Pardew, who left his post as Reading manager earlier this season to succeed Glenn Roeder.

Following the recent home defeat by Preston, Pardew said that he intended to make significant changes and obviously felt that a new coach was one of them."Paul has been a total professional and gentleman since I came," said Pardew today. "But I just wanted to change the chemistry between manager and first-team coach."

Goddard joined the club as coach from Ipswich in June 2000 following Roeder's appointment as manager.

"It was a surprise and it's the first time I have ever been sacked, but I have no complaints," Goddard said.

Meanwhile, Ian Pearce has completed his move from West Ham to Fulham after successfully passing a medical at Loftus Road.