Look Into My Eyes

Look into my eyes...

Andrew Bernhardt has spoken positively about the future after his first week with West Ham United. In a statement on the official site, the club's new Non-Executive Chairman insists he is looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead and believes the club can build on last season's successes.

"I have been so impressed with what has been achieved here in the last 12 months with a proper strategy that everyone has bought into. Gianfranco Zola has not even been at the club a year, yet he has put his indelible mark on a young, skillful, vibrant team.

"The club has a buzz about it, from the people you meet at reception to those involved in the first team. I have complete faith in how CEO Scott Duxbury and Gianfranco work together in improving the squad without external investment.

"Scott's self-sufficient business model is sensible and prudent in theses challenging times and will deliver success. I am confident there are strong foundations we can all build on."

Bernhardt also dismissed reports that the club would be forced to sell players to balance the books.

"That is absolutely untrue. No business likes to have debts, but with a £100m turnover, increased TV revenues and a focused commercial operation, the club is on sound financial footing. The wage bill has been reduced and the settlement agreed with Sheffield United is budgeted for.

"I can assure fans that Gianfranco absolutely does not have to sell any players for financial reasons and new players will be arriving in the summer to augment what is already a strong playing staff. We totally support his philosophy of following the West Ham tradition of bringing young players through, as well as investing in new talent where appropriate.

"But we also believe the club should not spend more than it earns and thus increase the debt. It simply isn't necessary when you have such a talented management team and pool of up-and-coming young players. It seems pointless to invest in West Ham United's world famous academy if you are then not going to use the players you have nurtured and developed."

Straumur Bank - the majority shareholder in CB Holdings who took control of the club this week - is going through a restructuring process following the recent global financial downturn. Bernhardt reiterated: "Our creditors and the Icelandic Financial Services Authority are fully aware of our plans and are completely supportive. But that situation will take a few months to resolve and will not impact on West Ham United."

3,2,1 and you're back in the room...

In other news, the Sun thinks Gianfranco Zola wants Robert Green to add to the three years left on his West Ham deal. Negotiations over a pay rise for the England keeper stalled in January - but managing director Scott Duxbury said: "I anticipate new contract talks will start again."

Green may not have had the busiest of evenings against Andorra but that certainly did not detract from the pride at making his home debut for England. It was the West Ham No1's second start in the space of five days for his country after another clean sheet against Kazakhstan in Almaty on Saturday. "It's a proud moment coming out and singing the national anthem," Green said on the official site. "It was a bit of a strange one on Saturday in Kazakhstan, but that's what international football is about. To be at Wembley and play was a really special moment. We knew what the game was going to be like. We knew what was going to happen when we came into it and it was just a case of working the chances, and when they came along, taking them, and we did that comprehensively."

Such was England's superiority that Green did not touch the ball until the 26th minute and then his every touch for the rest of the game was cheered by the home supporters. The 29-year-old admitted he was slightly worried he may not touch the ball at all! "Yes I was aware, maybe at Upton Park it would have been a bit more relaxed and I would have acknowledged it but on my full debut at Wembley it's one to play down a bit," he said. "I was counting the minutes as well don't worry. After about 20 minutes I thought I could have been the only keeper to have made his full debut at Wembley and never touch the ball but thankfully that didn't happen."

One of the hardest tests for Green would have been keeping his concentration with such large gaps between his involvements in the match. But he demonstrated that he was 100 per cent focused when he was called into action for midway through the second half. "I just knew that something somewhere down the line was going to happen and it did," admiited Green. "So in that respect I was there when I was needed and that's international football. In that respect it was a job done by everyone in the team. I was not at all frustrated at not having to do more. Two clean sheets is two clean sheets and I'm happy with that."

Finally, various news outlets are running with the Luis Jimenez story again. According to Sky Sports, West Ham United have confirmed the Inter Milan midfielder is one of the club's primary transfer targets over the summer, while Setanta go one step further and insist talks have been opened. Hammers technical director Gianluca Nani admits Chile international Jimenez is in his thoughts. The 24-year-old has long-since been linked with a switch to the Hammers and Nani, who moved to East London from Brescia last year, is of the opinion the player could be a good acquisition to Gianfranco Zola's squad. "We have a coach who likes to play football on the ground and Jimenez is a great player," Nani told FC Inter News. "He is currently an Inter player, but we still have two months left in the market. I like him very much - I wanted him to come to Brescia years ago."