West Ham legend Tony Cottee has launched a scathing attack on former technical director Gianluca Nani's transfer dealings and knowledge of English football

West Ham legend Tony Cottee has launched a scathing attack on former technical director Gianluca Nani's transfer dealings and knowledge of English football.

The Italian left the East End club by mutual consent last week, two years into a five-year contract.

His departure was inevitable after the new owners bought the club, with David Sullivan announcing he liked to be in charge of transfer dealings.

The former Birmingham chairman praised Nani after his departure, but Cottee has given a more damning verdict on the Italian's time at the club.

"His transfer dealings were very poor and for every positive Valon Behrami signing, there was always a David Di Michele or a Diego Tristan, players who were just not up to standard," the former club ambassador told the East London Advertiser.

"I don't think it mattered who came in, I feel he would have left the club.

"The Savio deal was catastrophic for us and it was clear from early on that the German was not good enough for the Premier League."

And Cottee, who played 267 league games for the Hammers, scoring 116 goals over two spells, felt Nani's knowledge of the English game was just not up to scratch.

"What was disappointing was his determination to only bring in foreign players, in particular from Italy where he had worked before," the former Barnet boss said.

"It showed he had little idea about the English game and it was obvious he did not know the English market.

"You need a healthy balance between buying foreign and English players.

"I do believe technical directors have a role to play in the game, especially for young managers new to the job because they need advice from time to time.

"However, it must be the manager who has the final say, as it is they who live and die by the decisions and in my opinion that is the way it should be."

By Matt Diner