West Ham remain rooted to the foot of the table, but Grant and his players can at least take comfort from an improved performance, and more importantly all the three points.

BBC: West Ham 3-1 Wigan

Instead, Zander has opted to shrink the board rather than grant Icahn a seat at the table.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Avram Grant, whose bottom-of-the-table West Ham host Blackpool on Saturday, also had no complaints with Holloway's selection.

BBC: I'll quit if I'm fined - Blackpool boss Ian Holloway

It means Grant's side will be bottom of the table over Christmas, a position from which only one club in the last 18 seasons has escaped relegation - West Brom in 2005.

BBC: Players backing Grant - Stanislas

West Ham's defeat leaves them bottom of the table with just one win all season, but boss Avram Grant was pleased with his side's efforts.

BBC: Wenger relief at Arsenal victory

Later during the round table, to the minor chagrin of two Internet journalists present, Grant turns his opinion on another issue unrelated to his movie: the growing media presence on the World Wide Web.

CNN: Hugh Grant is feeling 'Blue'

Only six of the 20 improved the team's league position in their first full season or part-season and just four left the team higher up the table than when they took over (and two of them are Hiddink and Avram Grant, who were never meant to be permanent managers).

WSJ: Pellegrini's Background Looks Good For Soccer's Manchester City

"We can take a lot of positives from this, " said Grant following Chelsea's 3-1 win that left West Ham without a point and bottom of the table.

BBC: Avram Grant says West Ham 'not a team for relegation'

Grant's team beat United 2-1 on Saturday to move level on points at the top of the table.

BBC: Man Utd could crack, says Grant