Mark Noble: Pundit hails ‘very clever move by West Ham’ as top-level talks reported
Appointing Mark Noble to an executive role would be a “very clever move” from West Ham, according to Noel Whelan.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted it is important to have people who “know the club inside out” behind the scenes.
As reported by the Daily Mail last Tuesday (15 February), West Ham chiefs are in talks to hand club legend Noble a leading football operations position when he hangs up his boots.
The 34-year-old has confirmed his plans to retire at the end of the season.
The report claims Noble could be handed a position working alongside head of recruitment Rob Newman.
Whelan insisted keeping the midfielder on board would “only help” West Ham moving forward.
“I think it’s important that you have players like that, who have been at the club,” Whelan told Football Insider’s Russell Edge.
“They know the club inside out and have that relationship with the owners the manager and the players as well. I think it’d be it’d be a learning process as well, but I don’t think it’s a bad thing.
“You’ve got somebody who’s got West Ham at their heart. He will need to learn that role, absolutely.
“You can take your directors test as well. I think it takes about three years to complete but I think during that time, he can manage it.
“It’s not a bad thing to have ex-players in those positions. Guiding and helping and having that that healthy relationship with the board in the manager.
“I think it’s a good place to go to find that middle ground between the two. I think it’s a very clever move by West Ham again. Looking after players that have served a long time in the football club.
“Keeping them there is only healthy, I believe.”
A boyhood fan of the Hammers, Noble made his first-team debut back in August 2004.
He has played 540 times across all competitions for the Irons.
In other news, pundit claims Championship star available for £10million could replace Noble.