Pardew free to become boss

Pardew quit his post at Reading after being denied the chance for talks with West Ham over the managerial role vacated by Glenn Roeders sacking last month, with Reading claiming he was in breach of contract.

However, after two hours of talks at a court hearing on Thursday afternoon, Pardew will take over from caretaker boss Trevor Brooking as the new Hammers boss on the day of the home clash with Burnley on October 18th.