News that Benni McCarthy has left West Ham after the club 'mutually agreed' to terminate his contract will surprise and upset no-one. When someone at Upton Park described McCarthy as a 'waste of space' it was rumoured that space immediately contacted it's Solicitor about suing for defamation of character. In a time of austerity and high unemployment - something that continues to threaten someone not a million miles from this keyboard - the thought of the former South African striker taking home an obscene amount of money every week was something that stuck in the craw of, not only every West Ham fan, but anyone who has any sense of impropriety and an understanding of professionalism.

Had the Hammers wanted someone who never played and was gifted with the mobility of a Queen Anne chest of drawers then I am still available. True I'm not grossly overweight - I'm one of those types who has to run around in the rain to get wet - but at least I would look like like I was interested, something Benni McCarthy singularly failed to display in any of the limited amount of time he spent actually putting his boots onto grass.

The statistics show that McCarthy was once a player of some note; Golden Boot in an incredible season under José Mourinho when he was instrumental in earning Porto a Champions League Trophy in 2004; top scorer in the Premiership for Blackburn in the 2006/07 season and holder of an impressive number of caps for South Africa, if McCarthy's career ends today then he will be able to look back with some pride. However, in a section of London, Benni McCarthy is a man who will always be associated with West Ham's great love of the absured transfer deal, standing alongside Marco Boogers, Joey Beauchamp and Florin Raducioiu in a squad that would cost a great deal but never make it over the half-way line.

Rumours that West Ham's pay-off to McCarthy is in the region of £1.5m are, hopefully, woefully overstated. If they are anywhere near correct though, can I suggest Benni does the decent thing and share his wealth out amongst those who came but never saw him. £50k this way would be a good start!