7:22am UK, Wednesday April 23, 2003

West Ham football manager Glenn Roeder had his house attacked by vandals just hours before he was rushed to hospital with chest pains, it has emerged.

180 Glenn Roeder arms folded west ham manager

Roeder: Under pressure

A bottle was thrown at the window of his home in Essex in the early hours of Easter Monday, reports said.

Roeder collapsed later that day following relegation-threatened West Ham's 1-0 win over Middlesbrough.

He remains in hospital as doctors await results from tests carried out.

Blockage

Initial examinations showed he suffered a blockage to a minor blood vessel in his brain, the hospital treating him said.

His condition is described as "stable" and he continues to make "satisfactory progress", according to a statement from the football club and the Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel.

The statement read: "We can confirm that there has been a blockage of a minor blood vessel in his brain.

"Doctors are continuing to carry out tests and will be in a position to make a fuller diagnosis once these are completed.

"The Roeder family would like to thank supporters and people within the football world who have sent goodwill messages and thank people for respecting their privacy."

Hospital

Doctors ruled out a heart condition but it is not clear how long Roeder, whose team is battling relegation from the Premiership, will stay in hospital.

Roeder, who lives in Essex with his wife Faith, two sons and a daughter, has faced immense pressure in recent months to avoid the drop to the First Division.

He was jeered and heckled by his club's own supporters at Upton Park on Monday.

He collapsed with chest pains moments after a post-match press conference.