GIANLUCA NANI, West Ham s first ever technical director, has left the club by mutual consent. The 47-year-old Italian took up his job at Upton Park in June 2008 after a doing a similar job at Serie B outfit Brescia, but after less than two years in the

GIANLUCA NANI, West Ham's first ever technical director, has left the club by mutual consent.

The 47-year-old Italian took up his job at Upton Park in June 2008 after a doing a similar job at Serie B outfit Brescia, but after less than two years in the post it was deemed that his services were no longer required.

Nani was responsible for the signing of Valon Behrami from Lazio and Herita Ilunga from Toulouse, both seen as great successes at Upton Park, but some of his other selections were not quite as successful.

The likes of Diego Tristan and David Di Michele proved to be mistakes, but nothing like the �5.5million West Ham paid Brescia for young winger Savio, said at the time to be a replacement for Craig Bellamy.

He lasted just a few months at the club before being shipped out to Fiorentina and West Ham were forced to take a loss.

This season, Nani can take responsibility for the signing of Guillermo Franco who as a free transfer has certainly been a success at the club, despite his dismal display at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

The writing was on the wall for Nani the moment that David Sullivan and David Gold took over the club with Sullivan stressing that he would be taking a hands-on role with transfers as he had at Birmingham.

Nani had two years left on his contract, but he is the latest victim of cost-cutting at Upton Park, and probably won't be the last.

WAS GIANLUCA NANI A SUCCESS AT UPTON PARK? GET THE RECORDER VERDICT IN NEXT WEEK'S NEWSPAPER.