Dicks warns against mass exodus

Dicks has recently returned to football as Wivenhoe Town manager

Julian Dicks has warned West Ham they will risk their Premier League status if they sell their top stars.

The new Wivenhoe boss had two spells at West Ham as a player and believes the club must not allow a mass exodus.

The ex-defender told BBC London 94.9: "Bellamy, Upson, Parker and Green are the best players at West Ham.

"If you are going to build a side, you have to build it around players like that. You can't sell them, you would like them to keep the best."

He added: "If they had to sell all four of them I would [fear relegation] - I think you could probably get away with Upson or Parker going but you need to hold on to Bellamy and Green."

Dicks made more than 300 appearances in his two spells at Upton Park, either side of a stint at Liverpool.

He added: "If the club are really financially stuck and have to offload players because of their wage demands then that's another story."