Carrying On Regardless

Glenn Roeder says he is still working hard at West Ham - even if there is no football being played!

"There are still faxes coming in, phone calls about football business, and we are going in every day.

"There's general tidying up of the training ground and we are speaking about equipment that we need for next season.

"There's always something going on at a football club that needs attending to."

Glenn would also like to reassure fans that some of the fringe players that he has had under his tutelage - or indeed kept an eye on while they were on loan - could still make an impact at West Ham.

Indeed, according to Glenn, there could be a bit of competition for Trevor Sinclair on the right flank next season even if Sebastien Schemmel is not signed on a permanent deal.

Surprisingly, striker Omer Riza has been converted to a right wing back by Cambridge, where he spent a brief spell on loan after his time at Barnet, and Glenn still feels that Adam Newton can make it at Upton Park.

"I would say it is probably the most important year of Adam's life," says Glenn. "He is approaching 20 years of age now and he needs to be getting involved in the first team and if he is not starting matches he needs to be getting onto the substitutes, bench and pushing on from there.

"We always thought he was a very good prospect when he was a young player and was outstanding in the FA Youth Cup final a couple of years ago.

"Sometimes young players take a little bit longer to come through than first expected but we certainly haven't given up hope that he will come through one day at West Ham.

"Players like Omer Riza are still under contract and I'm sure he will start in the reserves.

"I saw him play a couple of times for Cambridge as a right wing back and he did very well.

"I wouldn't be surprised if, quite soon into the new season, managers from the second and third divisions were asking us to take him on loan - something he could benefit from.

"I think he enjoyed the experience and it seemed to me he had become quite a fans' favourite down there, so maybe John Beck will look to take him on loan
again."