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Carlton Cole to leave West Ham after seven seasons

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments197

Carlton Cole

Striker Carlton Cole will leave West Ham United this summer after the club decided not to renew his contract.

The 29-year-old has spent seven seasons at Upton Park but struggled for form in 2012-13, scoring only twice.

Cole's future at the club appeared in doubt as the club have agreed a fee to sign Andy Carroll on a permanent deal.

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce said: "Carlton's need at his age is to be playing football as often as he can. We felt it better he found pastures new."

Cole, who has seven England caps, joined West Ham from Chelsea in 2006.

His last goal for the club was in a home defeat by Everton last December and he indicated on Tuesday on Twitter that he would be looking for a new club.

He said:external-link "Life is filled with ups and downs - today is a down but I'll be back! Carlton Cole has left the building.

"I came to east London not knowing what to expect but I'm glad I did. The last 7 years I've met a lot of good honest decent people. Thank you."

His departure was confirmed on the club's official websiteexternal-link on Wednesday.

West Ham's joint chairman David Gold tweeted:external-link "Good luck @CarltonCole1 - one of the nicest men I've ever met in football."

Meanwhile, the club have announced they are still in talks with midfielder Gary O'Neil, 30, over a new deal.

Allardyce said: "For Gary, negotiations are ongoing and that will be done between the chairmen and his agent now."

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197 comments

  • Comment posted by Will, at 10:02 22 May 2013

    #1 That's unnecessary
    Cole may not be the best striker but then again he didn't cost £50million to buy or £200000pw to keep and never put himself before the club
    He was a quality striker, if not the very best and served WHUFC well.
    Your comment represents everything wrong with modern football-Cole was a gentleman, team player and by and large a good role model for kids. Plenty of value lost.

  • Comment posted by User0331344479, at 10:17 22 May 2013

    In an era of money and celebrity obsessed players Carlton was a breath of fresh air. He took a pay cut when West Ham were relegated and has always conducted himself with integrity and professionalism. Would be an asset to any club with promising young players, who would do well to emulate his professionalism. Watford would be ideal for him - especially as Zola got the best out of him at WHU FC.

  • Comment posted by User0331344479, at 10:06 22 May 2013

    Thanks Carlton - not least for your Play Off Final goal last season. A man who gave his soul to the club and for that we respect you. A gentleman to the last.

  • Comment posted by Stannis Baratheon, at 10:24 22 May 2013

    Cole served West Ham well and should be respected for doing so. These threads prove that A. Most people only watch the big 5/6 clubs and B. Most are just as immature and disloyal as we accuse the footballers of being

  • Comment posted by HiltonT, at 11:57 22 May 2013

    When we were relegated at the end of the 2010/11 season, he turned down a move to Stoke slashing his wages by half to £14k/week. The club rewarded his loyalty by restoring them to their former level, after winning the play-off final, in which he scored the first goal and assisted in the winner.

    Fans around me refer to him as 'Can't Control', but what a loyal club man he was.

    Thanks Carlton.

  • Comment posted by User0251370952, at 10:12 22 May 2013

    SA doesn't play a pattern to suit CC. So best wishes for the future - 7 seasons at one club counts as loyal these days so A BIG Thank You to you Carlton

  • Comment posted by T8-eh-T8, at 10:49 22 May 2013

    A true pro who did what was asked of him. His hold up play in particular improved in recent seasons and his effort and dedication is unquestioned.

    Good luck for the future.

    (I often wiondered if we could have had Carlton Cole, Joe Cole, Ashley Cole and Andy Cole all playing for England at the same time - just for the sake of the commentators)

  • Comment posted by Simon Martyn, at 11:01 22 May 2013

    When West Ham got relegated he sticked with them and took the pay cut; something we do not see very often in the modern game. May not be the best player in the world but a very good professional nonetheless. Good luck for the future Carlton.

  • Comment posted by justin150, at 10:07 22 May 2013

    It is nice to see both player and club parting on such good terms and a credit to both of them

    Personally I do not believe that Carlton was really good enough to make it in the premiership but I can see him being a real handful in the championship Best example I can think of Michael Chopra Never made it at Premiership level but scored goals for fun in championsip. Carlton should be the same

  • Comment posted by User0387864403, at 13:29 22 May 2013

    In line with virtually all comments on this thread I'd like to add a big thank you to Carlton for everything he's done at West Ham. As some rightly point out, he is no Lionel Messi, but unlike some at least he recognises that himself.

    He has been a loyal and committed servant to the club over seven years, and I wish him all the best for the rest of his career.

    A top bloke!

  • Comment posted by User0911617020, at 13:34 22 May 2013

    Carlton Cole, COLE!
    Always believe in your soul,
    You've got the power to go,
    You're indestructible,
    Always believe in...
    Carlton Cole!

  • Comment posted by kamagloire, at 13:14 22 May 2013

    112
    He turned down a move to Stoke and took a 50% cut in wages to stay with West Ham in the Championship, THEN kept quiet about it for the entire season.

  • Comment posted by lampshademusic, at 10:31 22 May 2013

    Well done Carlton cole and thanks for all your goals . A true pro not the most gifted but worked out a way to play and very underrated as a goal scorer/ maker . I am sure he will haunt the hammers sooner or later.

  • Comment posted by gmt123, at 13:25 22 May 2013

    im a west ham fan and gota say thanks to carlton cole for all he done for west ham last season. I can see that the club wants to move forward and if we do end up getting carroll they the exact type of player and who would anyone prefer, cole or carroll?

    Thanks for everything cole and im sure you do well at next club cause your still a great player it just west ham trying to improve.

  • Comment posted by User0825176430, at 12:04 22 May 2013

    A few derogatory comments on here which is a shame. A very loyal servant, but one who performed better as a regular player & that was never going to happen under Sam. I hope he gets another chance (perhaps Watford under Zola, who always got the best from CC) to show his ability. Holds the ball up well. Very skilful and quite pacey. Will never be prolific and not good in the air. Good squad man tho

  • Comment posted by J Maynard, at 13:29 22 May 2013

    A true Gent, and a bit of an enigma. At times he was unplayable and on other occasions he couldn't hit a cows a*** with a banjo, but he always tried his socks off and behaved impecably with it, which is more than a lot of players seem to be able to do nowadays. Class act. Good luck CFC!

  • Comment posted by Peter-C, at 13:17 22 May 2013

    Carlton Cole has been a model pro, he never quite performed as an out and out goal scorer but his contribution in defence, his work rate, his passing and ball hold up play have been excellent. This is a bloke who won the hearts of the best supported club in the land, He remained through thick and thin ups and downs. I hope Carlton has a cracking career from here on - Always a Hammer at Heart.

  • Comment posted by maccaynwa, at 11:30 22 May 2013

    @54.stonewall
    22 Minutes ago
    Shame. He's a decent guy. But any striker who only scores twice in a season will struggle to retain employment. Good luck, Carlton.
    ++
    While Danny Welbeck gets a call up to the England squad?

    I have a really bad feeling that Liverpool might try and sign him as a back up player, what really scares me.

  • Comment posted by User0606334206, at 14:21 22 May 2013

    Sometimes when you read comments from fellow supporters of your own team, you sometimes wonder if they actually support that team at all or ever watch a match. Some people just have players they hate, whether they play well or not, and will blame them for everything, even other players performances. It makes me wonder who the next West Ham scapegoat will be. Diarra? Morrison? Good luck Carlton.

  • Comment posted by User0695690402, at 13:52 22 May 2013

    Crystal Palace should make an approach