Ex-Liverpool youngster O'Connor, 20, has represented the Republic of Ireland at Under-17 and Under-19 levels and has made 12 appearances this season.

BBC: Goalkeeper Richard Wright included in Ipswich cull

Former Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill and ex-Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce have been strongly linked with the Hammers hot seat, with the West Ham board reportedly due to meet on Wednesday to discuss Grant's future once more, perhaps annoyed almost as much by the Israeli's public rebuking of managing director Karren Brady for discussing transfer policy in her newspaper column as by results.

BBC: West Ham 2-1 Birmingham

But they were "surprised" to find Mr O'Leary at the ex-servicemen's club in Thetford when they arrived.

BBC: Norfolk

Shaquille O'Neal, Bryant's ex-teammate, saw his scoring and rebounding numbers drop significantly during the 2009-10 season following a divorce.

WSJ: Could Lakers star Kobe Bryant's Divorce Be Good for His Game?

Written by "Tumbleweeds" director Gavin O'Connor and Joe Carnahan ("Narc"), based on a story O'Connor put together with his twin brother Greg and ex-New York cop Robert Hopes, this is one of those movies that wants to emulate the serious side of '70s cinema, to dig into thorny ethical quandaries and alert us to institutional corruption.

CNN: Review: 'Pride and Glory' and cliches galore