Roeder to nowhere?

Roeder prepares for his Upton Park rebuilding project

BBC Sport Online chief football writer Phil McNulty investigates West Ham United's tortuous trek to the surprise appointment of Glenn Roeder as manager.

West Ham United's bold invite to offer refunds to season ticket holders unhappy with their new manager faces the acid test with the appointment of unproven Glenn Roeder.

Will all be calm in the East End - or will queues snake around Upton Park's ticket office in protest?

Roeder's name did not warrant a mention, even in jest, when Harry Redknapp was sacked five weeks ago after an alleged row over transfer funds.

He was not the first choice of the fans, or even the Upton Park board, whose search for a manager has slowly descended into farce.

Indeed, West Ham managing director Paul Aldridge's previous experience overseeing the heady world of crazy golf and carpet bowls at a Sussex holiday camp may have prepared him for the antics at Upton Park this summer.

Di Canio is worried

There is little doubt that the decision to appoint a man whose managerial record at Gillingham and Watford hardly smacks of glory and success is a major gamble.

West Ham's critics will suggest their search has been so fruitless that they have been left with no-one else to appoint but Roeder - and his efforts will be scrutinised in minute detail next season by fiercely passionate fans who wanted a bigger name.

Roeder himself will know he is almost king by default after a turbulent few weeks in West Ham's history.

Alan Curbishley looked the logical choice to return to his old club after his outstanding work at Charlton.

But the move never reached first base, and his name swiftly moved out of the frame, to be replaced with a who's who of managers.

Curbishley's link with West Ham earned him a lucrative new deal at Charlton Athletic, while Steve McClaren listened to the Hammers before deciding to move to Middlesbrough.

Hibernian's Alex McLeish, Preston boss David Moyes and Bolton's Sam Allardyce were also on the supposed hit-list at one point or another.

Dutchman Frank Rijkaard was one of the more fanciful suggestions, while others were ruled in and ruled out with indecent haste.

The road has finally led to Roeder, and even the most optimistic of fans will struggle to be inspired by his name or record.

Lampard on way out

He struggled badly at Watford and Gillingham, and the fear must be that patience will be in short supply with both Roeder and the Hammers' board if he does not start his first season well.

West Ham talisman Paolo di Canio hardly delivered a resounding reference for Roeder when he bemoaned the failure to attract a big name to Upton Park.

He said before news of Roeder's official appointment: "I'm worried, and somebody needs to stand up and speak out.

"I don't want this club to turn into another Sheffield Wednesday, selling the best players, getting relegated and becoming a mediocre First Division club.

"After all, we are West Ham, the club of Trevor Brooking, Geoff Hurst and Bobby Moore.

"I don't understand what's going on. I liked Harry Redknapp, but I can understand it if the club wanted a change of direction.

"If you're going to make a change you need a plan. Instead this looks like change for change's sake."

Roeder was given a rich endorsement by Joe Cole, but he now faces the task of winning over fans, convincing players like Di Canio, while marrying the experienced stars into a winning blend with young talent.

It is the sort of balancing act Paul Aldridge would have been only too happy to hire in his holiday camp days.

And now he is letting Roeder take centre stage.