West Ham have reportedly seen fit to bring to an end James Collins’ 11 years of loyal service by releasing the centre-half via email.
According to TalkSPORT presenter Georgie Bingham, the Hammers informed the Welsh defender that his contract won’t be renewed in the exact manner you’d expect Davids Gold and Sullivan to go about it…
Cas has it on good authority that not only has James Collins been released by West Ham after 11 years without ceremony or tribute but it’s been done by email. Yuck. #WHUFC
— Georgie Bingham (@georgiebingham) May 19, 2018
It should be noted that former West Ham defender Danny Gabbidon popped up in the comments beneath the relevant tweet and refuted the rumours.
No it’s NOT true!
— Daniel Gabbidon (@Gabbidon35) May 19, 2018
However, Bingham then replied insisting she had heard “on good authority’ that the claim was true.
The story was then backed up by @ExWHUemployee, who is generally regarded to have a decent track record when it comes to insider tittle-tattle at the club…
The rumours about James Collins are true. He received an email on Tuesday via Andrew Pincher with an attached letter confirming that he was to be released on a free. There was no mention of a testimonial either. Ginge is understandably gutted at the treatment.
— ExWHUemployee (@ExWHUemployee) May 19, 2018
So no testimonial, no goodbye, no statement, no kiss-my-arse-and-good-luck for Collins, a fan favourite and West Ham’s second longest-serving player behind Mark Noble.
If true – which we have no problems believing – what an absolute shambles of a boardroom.