• Zeljko has experience as a player and a coach, says Grant
• ‘The aim is to take the team forward with positive people’

West Ham’s manager Avram Grant has completed his management team with the appointment of the former Yugoslavia and Serbia midfielder Zeljko Petrovic as his assistant manager.

Grant had outlined his desire to appoint Petrovic, 44, when he took over at Upton Park this summer. He will work alongside the senior coach Paul Groves, the first-team coach Kevin Keen, the goalkeeping coach David Coles and the fitness coach Eamon Swift.

Grant said: “I am happy that we now have the staff set-up that I presented to the owners when I came. The aim is to take the team forward with professional, positive people and have a creative atmosphere. Zeljko Petrovic has a lot of experience and knowledge as a player and a coach.

“Paul knows my methods and did a great job for me at Portsmouth. He is one of the main reasons we went all the way to the FA Cup final with all the difficulties. Kevin has represented the traditions of West Ham and is also a very good coach and a positive person.”

Avram GrantWest Ham UnitedPremier Leagueguardian.co.uk

• Horns contravene health and safety regulations
• Have also been banned by Arsenal and Tottenham

West Ham United have banned vuvuzelas from Upton Park because they contravene the stadium’s health and safety regulations, which already prohibit the use of musical instruments.

The plastic horns, which proved hugely controversial during the recent World Cup, have already been banned by Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal as well as by a number of Football League clubs.

“Under the current health and safety regulations at the stadium, which already disallows musical bands, we would not allow them [vuvuzelas] into the stadium as they could be considered a weapon and could also be considered to be an annoyance to others,” a West Ham statement said. “The health and safety regulation that all of this comes under is already in place.

“The club wish at all times to ensure that all supporters are allowed to enjoy the game they are watching and prides itself on the passionate, loud and robust support from our fans at all matches at Upton Park.”

VuvuzelasWest Ham Unitedguardian.co.uk

• Aston Villa reportedly planning to bid £10m for midfielder
• Co-owner ‘optimistic’ club captain will decide to stay

West Ham remain confident that Scott Parker, the midfielder, will still be playing for the club next season.

Aston Villa are reportedly planning to make a £10m bid for the Hammers’ captain but David Sullivan, the club’s co-owner, said: “I am extremely optimistic that we can persuade him to stay at Upton Park. He is the backbone of our rebuilding plans, the team’s talisman.

“No way do we want a rerun of last season when we finished on 35 points as normally that amount means you’re relegated.

“The last time I spoke to Scott [before the summer break] he was enthusiastic [about] staying. I guess he wants to hear about our plans for rebuilding. And at the moment we have not had any offers for him. We’ve just heard rumours, that’s all.”

West Ham UnitedTransfer windowAston VillaJamie Jacksonguardian.co.uk