West Ham back in Europe for first time in nine years thanks to fair play

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/may/26/west-ham-europa-league-fair-play-place

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West Ham’s new manager will have Europa League football to contend with after the club qualified through the fair play league.

Just days after the end of the season and Sam Allardyce’s departure, West Ham have secured European qualification for the first time since the 2006–07 season. They finished top of the Premier League’s fair play table and will be among 104 teams whose Europa League campaign begins with the first qualifying round on 2 July

West Ham have three rounds to negotiate before August’s play-off round determines the 22 teams advancing to the group stage.

West Ham’s joint-chairmen, David Sullivan and David Gold, said in a statement: “We are delighted to have won a place in the Uefa Europa League as we want to ensure the Boleyn Ground the best send-off possible, and progress in this competition will certainly help with that. Starting in early July will bring its challenges but everyone at the club, from the board to the players and supporters, will be relishing the opportunity to feature on the European stage. It should be a fantastic experience.”

West Ham will find out their opponents when the draw is made for the first and second qualifying rounds on 22 June.

Entering the Europa League at this stage is likely to prove an interesting challenge for Allardyce’s successor. The former West Ham defender Slaven Bilic is the favourite with the bookmakers and the Croatian has confirmed he will leave the Turkish side Besiktas. Roberto Di Matteo is the second favourite after resigning as Schalke’s coach, while Unai Emery and Steve McClaren figure on the list.