As expected, West Ham United has opened talks with Alan Curbishley over the vacant head coach position at Upton Park, following the dismissal of Alan Pardew after a woeful 4-0 trouncing at the hands of Bolton Wanderers over the weekend. Curbishley, the former Charlton manager, would have his hands full: West Ham is in 18th place with just four wins from 17 matches. For the Hammers’ new Icelandic owners, relegation and depreciation would be a catastrophe after the consortium paid $160 million for the club. Curbishley is a former player who actually hails from the area; he succeded in keeping Charlton in the Premiership for many seasons, and most importantly, he’s available to start immediately. “I would love to know what they have to say – of course I am interested,” Curbishley said yesterday. “Once you are brought up in a background like West Ham, the affection you have for the club never goes away.” Striker Teddy Sheringham, 40, could also be involved in the new coaching line-up, although Curbishley will want the job on his terms. After losing out on the England appointment, Curbishley said he was taking a break from the game, though the new owners would want him to start before the January transfer window, where he will likely have at least $18 million for new signings.