Blow for Newcastle as West Ham refuse to meet Dyer deal

Last updated : 05 August 2007 By Barney French
Alan Curbishley has confirmed on SSN this evening [Saturday] that West Ham will not be pursuing their interest in signing the wantaway midfielder. It appears it is actually Newcastle who pulled out of the deal, almost certainly in the guise of benevolent dictator Ashley, being the only person at the club not set on selling the England player.

Now Ashley has left Sam Allardyce in a huge quandry. He has a player with undoubted talent, who was only this week the target of two separate fan attacks and does not want to stay at the club due to personal problems. What's more, Allardyce has already played down the loss of Dyer when it appeared the deal was on, prior to Ashley's interference.

If Dyer was unhappy at Newcastle before, he may now be looking up the number of the Samaratans hotline.