By Joe Ellis

23rd Sep, 2022 | 6:10am

West Ham United delight Tony Cottee with Thursday appointment

West Ham United announced the return to the club of Mark Noble on Thursday and former Hammer Tony Cottee is delighted with the news.

Noble, who retired from his playing days at the London Stadium at the end of last season, has been appointed as the Irons’ first ever sporting director to help the club progress forward.

He will be in close contact with manager David Moyes and the rest of the senior squad to offer his insight wherever possible to help his former club in any way he can.

Ex-West Ham player and fan favourite Cottee is delighted with the appointment of the club legend and took to Twitter to wish Noble well in his new role.

“I’m so pleased that West Ham have given Noble a role at the Club,” he said. One Club Legends should always stay on at their hometown Clubs! Congrats mate and best of luck.”

Passion

There could be many reasons why the Irons are not performing as well as they should have been so far this season and maybe Noble’s absence is one of them.

As the club’s captain last season, he was the soul and passion of the dressing room thanks to his own love for the club but that is now bereft from the squad.

Declan Rice is the best option to take on those responsibilities but there is just something about Noble that is different to everyone else.

That could be why Noble has been brought back into the club to try and relight that fire within the players and start the climb away from the relegation zone and towards the top half where they should be.

It might take more than just this one appointment but if it does work, it is a great start to the right path back to being European challengers.