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"Unsurprisingly, this summer we received a number of significant bids for leading players - in itself emphasising the high number of quality internationals at Alan Curbishley's disposal - and all were rejected.

"However, in particular, the transfers of Anton Ferdinand and George McCartney along with the release of Freddie Ljungberg were right for the club and decisions had to be taken based on our best long-term interests. In the past week, agreement could not be reached with Ferdinand on a new contract to replace his original deal that had just two years left to run while McCartney handed in a formal written transfer request after failing to resolve his personal reasons for wanting a move away."

Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson, the West Ham United chairman and owner, said: "In my first full season as chairman of this great football club, I can assure our loyal supporters that we are working hard to bring sustained success to West Ham United. Everyone, including the CEO and Board, is committed to this common goal. We have a long-term strategy that takes into account all aspects of West Ham United's past, present and future and we will not be deterred. Our fans can look forward to many positive years on and off the pitch."

Curbishley revealed that he was feeling the pressure at West Ham after their 4-1 victory over Blackburn Rovers on Saturday. “I got some criticism last season and more now which I will take but I’ve sat at Charlton when other managers were getting it, being called turnips and jokers and whatever else, and I wondered what it was like. Now I’ve found out," he said.

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“But as long as it is me getting it and not the players then fine, because it is the players who have got to go out there and perform. There’s not too much I can do about it except for us to keep winning games and what will be will be.

“The board have put me under no pressure whenever I speak to the people concerned. The man in the street? I was told once early in my career that in this game you just can’t hide. If it’s going badly you can’t stop going out and taking your kids to school, you can’t stop going around the supermarket with your wife. You’ve got to carry on as normal, not hide away.

“But the fans are a big thing and a big part of what goes on here. I’ve had 15 years of people patting me on the back before I came back here and I knew then what the situation was and what the responsibility was. But I can’t go around all the time just defending myself. It does feel I’ve had to do that more than I should have but now I’m just going to get on with it.”

The board had told him that his position was safe, but Curbishley weighed up his options and decided to walk.

Curbishley saved the club from relegation after replacing Alan Pardew midway through the 2006-07 season and led them to 23 victories from 62 games.