PREMIER LEAGUE: Co-owner David Sullivan has insisted the entire West Ham board were “100 per cent” behind Avram Grant, despite the club having actively tried to replace him as manager.

The Hammers were forced into an embarrassing climbdown yesterday as they finally decided to give Grant a formal vote of confidence after reportedly being snubbed in their efforts to lure Martin O’Neill to Upton Park.

Grant had appeared on the brink of the sack at the weekend, amid claims former Aston Villa and Celtic boss O’Neill had been lined up to succeed him.

But the Israeli now finds himself in an extraordinary position of strength, having been publicly endorsed as the man to save the Hammers from Premier League relegation.

A club statement said: “The club are committed to retaining Avram Grant as manager and have identified potential transfer targets to give us the best possible chance of retaining Premier League status.

Sullivan added on ESPNsoccernet: “The entire board is 100 per cent behind Avram. He is a really decent person who deserves our support.

“West Ham United is a club that does the right thing and the right thing at this time is to support the manager.

“We will do all we can to bring in players over the next 12 days and, once we have achieved that, we hope it will keep us up.

“I urge all supporters to rally behind the club at this difficult time.”

But Sullivan's backing is only likely to end speculation about Grant's position in the short-term.

The contradictory anonymous briefings which have emanated from Upton Park of late — some of which the club are investigating — suggest a real split on the board over whether to sack Grant, who was only appointed in the summer.

The club have been bottom of the Premier League for virtually the entire season but their form has improved dramatically of late and they are also within touching distance of the Carling Cup final.

The upturn in fortunes failed to spark any public board backing for Grant and he went into Saturday’s game with Arsenal seemingly a dead man walking.

But O’Neill was reportedly turned off by the whole Upton Park soap opera, handing Grant a reprieve.

The statement should appease supporters to a certain extent after they urged the Hammers board to either back or sack Grant, with former West Ham captain Julian Dicks warning the club earlier this week that they were in danger of turning into a “laughing stock” by not providing clarity over Grant’s position.

He had already been allowed to bring in Wayne Bridge on loan from Manchester City and is set to make more signings before the transfer window closes.