West Ham captain Mark Noble will hang up his boots at the end of the season
(Picture: Getty Images)West Ham have opened talks with Mark Noble to define a behind-the-scenes role for the midfielder once he retires at the end of the season.
The 34-year-old is in his final campaign as a player at West Ham, the club where he has spent his entire career, but David Moyes is keen for his captain to stay on beyond this summer.
Despite his playing time having reduced over the past two seasons, Noble has played a key role within the West Ham dressing room, whether it be setting standards in training sessions or providing advice for Moyes over decisions ahead of or during games or over new signings.
The two have a close relationship and will discuss potential new arrivals during transfer windows.
Noble also spends a lot of time at Chadwell Heath, the academy training base where his son, Lenny, is working his way through the ranks, and could be involved on that side of the club, having progressed through the system himself before going on to make more than 400 Premier League appearances.
"We've got some top young talent that has come through and will come through," Noble said in a recent interview with Rio Ferdinand's YouTube channel.
"I'm at the academy all the time, see the boys train and there are two or three U16s who look like they could make that next step."
Having been consulted by Moyes on new arrivals, there could also be a role to take on within the recruitment team, which the manager remains keen on expanding further.
