David Moyes reacts to Celtic links and West Ham contract speculation

David Moyes says he has no plans to leave West Ham at the end of the season, despite his uncertain contract situation and links with the vacant post at Celtic.

The ex-Everton and Manchester United boss took over at West Ham a little more than a year ago and has transformed their fortunes since. In December 2019, Manuel Pellegrini left them in the mire of a relegation scrap, but in February 2021, Moyes has them in the top four of the Premier League.

He has gained understandable acclaim for the work he has done in his second spell at the East London club, but there has been some anxiety over his future, with the 18-month contract he signed upon taking over due to expire this summer.

That has conveniently dovetailed with links with Celtic, who finally parted company with Neil Lennon this week. But Moyes, speaking at his press conference ahead of their trip to Manchester City on Saturday, moved to reassure fans he has no plans to move on.

He said: "I have no intention of going anywhere I have spoken to David Sullivan but I don't want anything to get in the way of what we are doing right now.

"I am really happy here, there have been great improvements here at West Ham and hopefully, we can continue this improvement here."

It should be noted that links with Celtic at this stage are tenuous at best. The media have a habit of throwing any Scottish coach worth their salt into the frame whenever Celtic or Rangers are on the lookout for a new boss; it's barely been two days and we've already seen Gordon Strachan, Shaun Maloney and Paul Lambert linked with the post.

Moyes has been touted due to his 'history' with the club. But while 'Celtic' does appear under the 'playing career' section of his Wikipedia page, 24 appearances under Billy McNeill in the late 80s hardly screams 'club legend.'

He's being linked literally because he's Scottish, so it would be worth taking things with a pinch of salt for now.

As far as his West Ham contract situation goes, reports in January suggested that both Moyes and chairman David Sullivan are relaxed, and feel that a new deal is pretty much inevitable after their progress over the past year.

The Guardian say that they have delayed tabling a new contract until May due to their financial situation in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, but since then the Irons have rocketed from seventh to fourth, so don't be surprised if those talks are accelerated.

Even if there is external interest, though, it seems likely that Moyes - who has endured years of turbulence in his career since leaving Everton in 2013 - will favour a stay at the club where he has found a home at the second time of asking.