Grant admitted Benni McCarthy had ‘one or two kilos’ to lose but said he would support the forward. ‘We’ll help him with this and what I see in training is good — I’m sure he’ll be OK.

I was slightly concerned when Benni left, as despite his weight problems, he was the best proven finisher at the club (also the fact we were flirting with relegation at the time). However, looks like things have worked out well and we have not suffered in the slightest (plus receiving some money in the process). I can completely understand Sam's stance now and also think he conducted himself well when Benni went on strike.

West Ham are ready to take severe sanctions against fat boy Benni McCarthy. Benni McCarthy facing hefty West Ham fine if he fails to lose weight

Another striker who joined West Ham in January, Benni McCarthy, and another who appears to have weight issues McCarthy was being paid £45,000 a week at Ewood Park, their highest-earner, and is on comparable wages now, including a payment of £250,000 for his image rights.

RIP

Sam on Benni from here While Allardyce may have been less than impressed by the way the veteran South African missed training in an effort to force through the move, the Rovers boss feels he can still do a job in the Premier League. "He is a hugely talented player that can play well and play his best football in the final third," said Allardyce. "However, Benni is not getting any younger so when you're not getting any younger the legs are not quite as good, but the talent is still there. If you can get other players around him to do the work load then he will use the talents to get you chances and score you goals. I think based, on his career, he will be really, really good when he comes to the club because he generally is the best he is when he first goes to any new club.

Comment from that story I'm not surprised Karren Brady proposed changing the name of her new club to West Ham Olympic last week. She christened Blackburn 'Welshpool Rovers' when I left Birmingham for there in 2005, inferring that I'd only moved because I wanted to be alongside countrymen like Mark Hughes and Mark Bowen. Wrong. Maybe I just wanted to work for a chief executive who didn't have daft ideas

Comments from Sam Insisting McCarthy’s decision had more to do with a wages hike of £15,000 to £50,000-a-week rather than playing time Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce said: ‘If you’re at a club you have to play for your place, World Cup or not. you’re not consistent enough then you don’t get in the side. ‘It’s a player’s responsibility to give his best performance every week. The reason he is going will be the size of the contract and the money.

Yes, you cannot take away from the fact that his contribution was a major factor to us winning the Fulham match.

Not saying I don't agree with you. However, don't think there has been many examples when a player has not got his way (or has there?)

Rely on unproven players when in a relegation scrap, bit risky, no?

On Holiett, the way Sam has been speaking recently suggests it may not be a lost cause (saying Olsson, Kalinic and Holiett were the future of the club). The fact many of us would not blink an eye lid if some of our first teamers left says it all (about the worrying lack of quality throughout the squad).

Sounds like West Ham have a few striking options, so not sure how much they will be willing to pay for Benni - I know they have money to spend now, but our reluctance to sell him could be more down to the fact we cannot replace him adequately. Regardless of his attitude, which has been questionable for some/much of his time here, he is still our best finisher. Looking at replacements, decent strikers usually cost big fees and wages too.

More of an angry reaction....

Anyone acting like Benni can f**k off, disrespectful prick. Need a replacement though.

Benni still is our best goal scorer. I would say it is a fairly major decision to let him leave, particularly as we are involved in a relegation battle. On the merits of selling him - we know his qualities, but there is more to it than that – the manager does not like putting Benni in the team and Benni does not like playing for us (due to style of football & lack of first team opportunities). Personally I would keep him until the end of the season if possible, as he is quality and his departure would only weaken us in the short-term. The repalcement would have to be decent quality to make me feel comfortable about him leaving.

Would not sell until the end of the season. Would be surprised if we could lure anyone of quality. Like the manager's situation, if we cannot replace them adequately, there is little point. He still has that touch of class/quality which we need.

For now, I would keep him. Whislt he can be inconsistent, he still has flair/class/quality, therefore he can be a match winner for us, and to replace that would cost a bit of cash.

Everton are set to beat Celtic in the race for Blackburn striker Benni McCarthy.

Benni is really taking the p*ss. Don't think there will be many takers at our asking price - think Sam will try and get rid if he has someone else lined up

Some of our players are simply not good enough. That’s not to say they cannot improve but there is only so much you can do. Benni has the talent and quality, we know that. However, clearly he has problems with keeping his weight to a adequate/required level as it appears to fluctuate throughout the season (sometimes he looks leaner than other occasions).

According to Benni in that article, Sam wanted him out in the summer.

Benni McCarthy insists he has to leave Blackburn to save his career after being singled out to do extra training at 7am by manager Sam Allardyce.

Benny McCarthy desire hits right note

Calm - let's see if he can be consistent.