Alan Curbishley ... stepped down yesterday as manager of West Ham. - File

LONDON (AP):

ALAN CURBISHLEY'S turbulent spell as West Ham manager came to an abrupt end yesterday when he quit, saying that the club had sold players against his wishes.

Curbishley endured a fraught time at the east London club after saving it from relegation in the 2006-07 season, becoming the first Premier League manager to leave his job this season after the Hammers sold defender George McCartney to Sunderland.

West Ham had seemingly prepared for Curbishley's departure yesterday by releasing a statement in which it justified the sale of McCartney and Anton Ferdinand during the transfer window.

Curbishley's response

But Curbishley responded with a televised interview in which he said McCartney had been sold to Sunderland despite him explicitly telling chief executive Scott Duxbury that he needed the fullback because of injuries to other players.

"It was the transfer of George McCartney which I was vehemently against," Curbishley told Sky Sports. "Not just because he is such a good player - I happen to think he's one of the best fullbacks in the Premier League - but the situation we found ourselves in with injuries to other players.

"We're quite stretched and it was that which got to me more than anything."

Curbishley added that he had met Duxbury on Sunday to discuss potential loan signings, but had been told that he could only bring players in if he sold some first.

"I said 'OK'," Curbishley said. "I was quite happy to stick with the squad."

Instead, West Ham sold McCartney to Sunderland, which had signed Ferdinand earlier in the week.

The breakdown

Curbishley enjoyed initial success at West Ham after arriving in December 2006 and, with financial backing from the club's Icelandic owners, brought in players including Lucas Neill, Matthew Upson, Scott Parker, Julian Faubert, Craig Bellamy, Fredrik Ljungberg and Kieron Dyer.

But a combination of injuries and poor form led to the club stagnating in 10th place the following year, and Curbishley - whose teams at Charlton were similarly known for fading in the second half of the campaign - was jeered at the start of this season.

The Independent newspaper reported yesterday that Curbishley clashed with Neill in the changing room following Saturday's 4-1 win over Blackburn, with the West Ham captain having told his manager that the players had just "kept you in a job."