By West Ham Zone speaking to Frank McAvennie

21st Oct, 2022 | 12:10pm

'Ruthless' - Pundit expects Craig Dawson to leave with West Ham United not giving him a new deal

We’re delighted to welcome former West Ham United striker Frank McAvennie as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at the London Stadium…

West Ham will not offer Craig Dawson a new contract and he will leave the club in 2023 to go elsewhere, according to Frank McAvennie.

The central defender has become a key member of West Ham’s starting lineup over the last 18 months, but was set to leave in the summer window before a move to Wolves collapsed on deadline day when the Hammers couldn’t get a replacement.

And McAvennie feels he will likely leave in the new year with the Hammers unlikely to offer him a new contract that matches his demands because of his age, a decision he has branded as “ruthless” by the club.

“I think it would be a big loss but he’s [32] now,” he told West Ham Zone. “He’s old in football terms.

“He’s not going to get a big contract, because he’s going to be bit part. He’s a no-nonsense centre-half that you need, with Zouma or something like that. So you need players in there.

“If Dawson doesn’t get a contract then he’ll go somewhere else, but he’ll be wanting a big contract and West Ham won’t give him it.

“He’s a die hard. He puts his body on the line. Utmost respect to him, but he probably won’t get the contract he wants so if he wants to play football and stay at the club then he’ll accept what they’ll offer him, if they offer him anything.

“Football clubs are ruthless. You do your bit, you’re there for years and then they say, ‘thanks very much, see you later,’. You’re done, you’re finished. Thanks for your best years, but anyway go on.

“Dawson’s a good player and he’ll be hard pushed to get a contract I would think.”

It’s believed that Dawson is keen to leave to return closer to his home up north, while his current deal is set to expire in the summer.