West Ham United co chairman David Suliivan has admitted that the signing of striker Andy Carroll was a mistake, in a recent interview.
Carroll is set to be out for up to four months after undergoing surgery on an anke injury he sustained on West Ham’s tour of New Zealand.
The striker was injured for the first half of last season, and did not play for the East London club until the 2-0 win at Cardiff in January, Carroll did go onto make 16 appearances that season.
And now Sullivan has admitted the mistake in the mega money signing last summer.
“Had we known what we know now we wouldn’t have signed the player,” Sullivan said to TalkSport.
“But it’s easy to be wise after the event. We were assured by our physio – who has since left the club – that the player would be available for the start of the season.
“He wasn’t available until January or February. A mistake was made and we were given the wrong information. We based our decision and our purchase of the player on what the medical department told us.
“We’ve changed everything in that department as a result of that. At the same time on his day he is a devastating and fantastic player, we’ve just got to get him back to his best.”
Carroll signed for the club on a permanent deal from Liverpool for a £17 million fee, having spent the previous 2012/13 season on loan at West Ham.
By Ben Reardon
@BenReardon1
