David Gold has backed Avram Grant to bring an end to West Ham's disastrous start to the season.

The Hammers have managed just one win from their first seven league games and are bottom of the table.

Grant replaced Gianfranco Zola during the summer after impressing co-owner Gold with plans for the future. And Gold is adamant Grant can lift the gloom and lead his team out of trouble, beginning on Saturday against fellow strugglers Wolves.

"I've always said the relationship between manager and chairman is most critical and most important," Gold said. "It's like choosing a wife. There are a lot of beautiful women around but it's all about having the right chemistry to make it work.

"When you are choosing someone, you know he's going to pick the right team and the right players but it's about whether you can work together.

"Within a couple of hours of meeting him I got the feeling I could work with him because he's a man who value's people's opinions but can make the final decisions.

"We have shown spirit and determination and that has shown that Avram can fight back from adversity as well as the team. There are better things to come for sure and there's plenty of room for improvement.

Boyhood Hammers fan Gold, 73, grew up on Green Street, and still finds it hard to believe he is in control of the club's destiny.

"You do have to pinch yourself and people would never believe the story because it's so incredible," he said.

"It's a rag-to-riches story. I came from abject poverty, a single parent family pretty much with a father in prison.

"I had to claw my way out. When I was 12, I was thinking about playing for West Ham, I watched them the whole time and then I went out to the big wide world. Now I'm back 50 years later and I can't really believe it."