Gold: West Ham 'stronger' without Payet

David Gold says Dimitri Payet "let West Ham down" and says the club are stronger without the French playmaker.

The 29-year-old joined Marseille on Monday in a £25m deal, after making it clear to the Hammers that he wanted a move back to his former club, but West Ham co-chairman Gold says the club is better off without the France international.

"It is stronger in the sense the morale is better," he told BT Sport 1.

"There were a couple of months when morale was reducing, and I think we had to make that decision.

"We didn't want him to leave - we were desperate to keep him and the manager wanted to build the tea, around him.

"But sometimes these things don't work, and sadly you have to bite the bullet and say 'this is the end'.

West Ham failed to add quality to the squad following an impressive 2015-16 season, mostly bringing in free transfers and loan signings, but Gold insists Payet hasn't used that argument to explain his decision to leave the club.

"I think he has said that he doesn't have to justify himself. I think he has let the fans down, the football club and the manager down, and I am hugely disappointed," he continued.

Gold also says that new signings Robert Snodgrass and Jose Fonte have the mentality to thrive at the London Stadium.

Snodgrass signed a three-and-a-half-year deal at London Stadium on Friday after completing a £10.2m move from Hull City, while Fonte joined the Hammers from Southampton for £8m on a two-and-a-half-year deal on 20 January.

“We want solid seasoned professionals where what you see is what you get. I’ve met them both at training and they were fantastic,” Gold told BT Sport 1

Photo Getty Images/Julian Finney

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