Sullivan - No Grant pressure

Grant: Job safe

You can't judge a team after three games. It's very premature.

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West Ham co-owner David Sullivan insists Avram Grant is not under pressure after just three games of the season.

Some reports have claimed that Sullivan and his co-owner David Gold, were considering Grant's position - despite only appointing him in the summer.

Grant succeeded Gianfranco Zola in the summer, but he has endured a poor start with West Ham losing their opening three games.

But Sullivan says, Grant is not under any pressure from him and that he has had to cope with a tough start.

"I haven't relayed any messages to Avram at all. I just expect a gradual improvement in form. It's not all doom and gloom," he told the News of the World.

"You can't judge a team after three games. It's very premature. When you're building something it takes time and there have been changes at all levels.

"The next three games are very, very tough. Chelsea at home, Stoke who are particularly good on their own ground and Tottenham at home.

"Three tough games and then the season really starts with the Fulham game on October 2. But I hope to surprise a few people against Chelsea, Stoke or Tottenham.

"The Bolton game was a major disappointment but it's early days.

"There was a stage last season where we lost six games in a row, these things happen.

"He inherited a very imbalanced squad. Over the next year he'll turn things round. Results will gradually come. Avram is very, very confident about the future.

"He'd love to have £30m-£40m to spend but what manager wouldn't?

"I've got every confidence in the manager and every confidence in the team."

Foreign blast

Sullivan did, though, take a swipe at some of his squad, claiming some of the 'foreign players' were not performing their best.

"We've got a few foreign players who wanted to leave but we didn't receive any offers," he continued.

"I think they couldn't be bothered but now the deadline has passed they realise the only way out is to play for the club and to play well and I think they will make a contribution.

"They realise now that they are here until at least January so they will get their heads down and work for the benefit of the club. They had their heads in the air before that.

"The team that started against Man United was the same team from last season because virtually all the new signings were injured.

"You will find over the next few weeks that it won't be the team of last season - but if players are performing well they will retain their place. It's the manager's decision.

"Out of our new signings Victor Obinna didn't have international clearance, Thomas Hitzlsperger was injured, Winston Reid has a torn muscle in his buttocks, Tal Ben Haim was not fully fit and Pablo Barrera was knackered after playing two full games in the week after the World Cup.

"Now with our new players getting back and the others back playing, you will see us get better game by game."