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Injured Dyer won't quit after Sullivan drops hint

Kieron Dyer could be set to make his 18th appearance for West Ham his last © Getty Images

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Soccernet has learned that Kieron Dyer has no intention of retiring after new owner David Sullivan hinted the player should consider ending his career.

Sullivan suggested that the player might be set to announce his retirement, but a close associate of Dyer's told Soccernet: "Kieron is not retiring, far from it, he is once again fighting to get back to fitness, and might only be a couple of weeks away.

"He has had a hamstring injury, and everyone knows he's had a terrible time with injuries. But he has a couple of years left on his contract so he hasn't even considered retiring."

Dyer, 31, has been plagued by injuries since joining West Ham for £6 million in 2007 and has made just 18 appearances for the club. He is understood to be earning £60,000 a week. Sullivan referred to a member of the squad who earns "£60-70,000 a week" when he said in the Daily Telegraph: "There is one player who hardly plays at all who might have to accept retirement."

Earlier, the co-owner had hinted that he was unhappy about the level of wage payments at the club as he is reportedly planning to make cuts to staff as well as attempting to negotiate new agreements with those earning excessive amounts.

"We cannot rip them up under football league rules - you are stuck with these contracts," Sullivan said. "We have to let them run down or do deals with players."

Hammers striker Dean Ashton was forced to retire due to injury in December last year at the age of 26 and Sullivan admitted: "There is one player who has accepted retirement but we have to give him one year's money."

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