WEST HAM boss Sam Allardyce insists he can guide the club back to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
Allardyce was officially unveiled by the Hammers today after succeeding Avram Grant following the club's relegation to the Championship.
And the former Bolton and Blackburn manager acknowledged promotion is all the more crucial with the club set to move into the Olympic Stadium after next year's Games.
He said: "I want to achieve the ultimate, which is to get promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
"As difficult as that is going to be, i think it can be achieved.
"And with a club the size of West Ham that needs to be done as soon as possible.
"The long-term goal is the Olympic Stadium and the team must be back in the Premier League when it is going to move into that great venue."
Speculation over the future of the club's high earners continues to rumble on following relegation.
But Allardyce revealed the likes of England internationals Robert Green, Carlton Cole and Scott Parker have not been the subject of any formal bids.
He said: "The speculation is around Green, Cole and Parker, but at the moment we haven't had any concrete bids for those players.
"Other than that there is no rush to sell anyone else.
"We will probably look at moving some of the players on because their desire is to play in Premier League.
"From a financial point of view, it suits us to lose that financial commitment because the drastic loss in revenue is what we all have to face at West Ham.
"It certainly suits the owners, who've got to really back up with their own money to help us try to get back in the Premier League.
"We will try and get as good a squad as we can. There's some very good players at the club.
"If we all want to work together and go in the right direction, we can give it our best shot and hopefully that will be enough next season."
Allardyce has also rubbished the theory that his brand of football may not be the "West Ham way".
He added: "When did West Ham play the West Ham way?
"It can't be the West Ham way if you get relegated and the club's been up and down like a yo-yo.
"I don't think the fans see that as playing the West Ham way.
"The West Ham way is about winning football matches and the enjoyment of winning.
"The fans are in the game to watch winning football, I'm in the game to play winning football and entertain the public — and that's what I do.
"
Everywhere I've been I entertain the public, irrespective of the perception from the media that Sam Allardyce plays long ball.
"That is only a perception but most of football is run on perception today."
Read more:
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/3652908/Sam-Allardyce-West-Ham-can-bounce-straight-back-itno-the-Premier-League.html#ixzz1Q1Hhf18R
Originally Posted by Toronto Gooner
Harsh, but fair.
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