Parker untouchable as Hammers clear house

(GETTY IMAGES)

The owners of West Ham United are preparing for a huge clear-out of players and are already shopping for replacements, with a bid of £4m for midfielder Graham Dorrans which has been rejected by West Bromwich.

The West Ham co-owner, David Sullivan, has made it clear in an interview the club is open to offers for every player except former England midfielder Scott Parker. It means international players such as goalkeeper Robert Green, defender Matthew Upson and striker Carlton Cole will almost certainly leave in the summer in a bid to lower the club's wage bill even though West Ham have avoided relegation.

Sullivan said: "If we get the right bid we will sell any player, apart from Parker. He is Mr West Ham."

The overhaul of the playing staff is being undertaken without the input of manager Gianfranco Zola, who has made it clear to co-owners Sullivan and David Gold that he is only interested in coaching, making it more likely he will be replaced in the summer.

Despite the lack of input from Zola, Gold and Sullivan are ploughing on with their rebuilding of the team. They appealed for season-ticket renewals on the club's website yesterday under the slogan, "New season. New era. New heroes." With that in mind, West Ham tabled a bid of £4m for Scotland international Dorrans, 22, who has been a key player in West Brom's drive to promotion from the Championship.

The bid, which is understood to be the second lodged by West Ham, was swiftly rejected by West Brom chairman Jeremy Peace, who said: "Our aim now is to retain our core players and strengthen our squad around them. Graham Dorrans is not for sale."