Alan Curbishley, the former coach of Charlton Athletic, is expected to be named as manager of West Ham United, according to the British media. The position fell vacant after the club’s new owners, who are from Iceland, fired Alan Pardew following five straight defeats in six games.

Curbishley had been considered as a replacement for England’s national team coach Sven-Goran Eriksson after the World Cup, but the job was given to Steve McClaren. Curbishley, who played for West Ham from 1975-79, has said he would like to return to Upton Park.

"Of course I'm interested," he said. "Once you are brought up in a background like West Ham, the affection you have for the club never goes away." Curbishley spent the last 15 years as a manager at nearby Charlton.

If he is appointed, he will become West Ham’s 11th manager in the last 104 years.