West Ham co-chairman David Gold has insisted he personally spoke with James Collins about the defender leaving the club at the end of the season BEFORE he was sent an email confirming his departure.
Fan-favourite Collins was released by the Hammers this summer after 11 years of service, but sources had told talkSPORT the 34-year-old defender was unhappy with the nature of his unceremonious exit.
Sources close to Welshman on Saturday claimed he had no idea he was being let go before being notified of his release via an email.
A former West Ham team-mate later insisted he ‘categorically knew’ Collins was not told face-to-face that he was being released by West Ham this summer.
But, speaking in an exclusive interview with talkSPORT on Wednesday, Gold insisted that was not the truth.
The Hammers chief said he spoke to the centre-back after the final game of the season against Everton, where Collins was seen in tears as he left the pitch.
Asked if the club verbally told Collins he was being released before sending him an email, Gold said: “Oh absolutely. I spoke to James after the [Everton] game.
“What the league and the FA demand is when you release a player you must send an email to them as well as a copy to the player – you have to do that.
“But I did speak to James and we had a conversation, so that’s not quite true.
“It’s not true when people are assuming that we just sent him an email.”
West Ham supporters voiced their anger at the lack of fanfare surrounding the long-serving star’s exit, while Vinnie Jones told talkSPORT the whole scenario was ‘the lowest thing I’ve ever heard’.
Collins is a cult hero at the east London club – the Wales international is affectionately known as ‘Ginge’ and ‘The Ginger Pele’ to the Hammers faithful.
Players who spend more than ten years at one club are usually awarded a testimonial match to end their tenure. Collins actually played in Mark Noble’s testimonial match in 2016, yet he will leave the club without one.
Gold did not touch on this, but explained there is every chance the 34-year-old could be re-signed by West Ham this summer if new manager Manuel Pellegrini thinks he is good enough.
“Of course, we could still bring James back,” the chief added.
“It’s the manager’s decision, but we can reemploy James tomorrow. The manager will make that decision.
“But, I did speak with James at the end of the season on the basis that he might not be coming back because, if the new manager decides that James doesn’t fit his requirements, than we must move on.”
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