Don Hutchison hopes that West Ham can continue to surge up the
table - and convince Trevor Sinclair to stay at the club.
Don says losing Trevor would be a big blow, but insists a few more wins might just change his mind.
"If we win the next two games against Charlton and Fulham we might end up in the top seven," says Don, "and all of a sudden Trevor will think 'why do I need to go to a big club if we are lying sixth or seventh?'
"It is our job to try and convince him to stay - and I hope we can.
"He has obviously made a brave step to put his transfer request in, and that is the statement that he thought he had to do.
"But we'll be doing it for ourselves, Trev, and the gaffer and if we get a few wins on the trot we might be able to change his mind."
Don has been impressed by Trevor's attitude and form despite handing in that transfer request, and explains:
"He is a good professional and it would have been easy for him to go off the rails a little bit to get a move.
"But he is doing it the right way, on the park, and that is the only way a massive club is going to come in for him.
"We are glad he is doing it on the pitch; he's a good lad.
"I knew him a little bit through Daniele Dichio, as they are good mates, but I didn't know how talented a player he was until I came down.
"Trevor has got lots of good assets, and pace and strength are definitely two of them."
Don was recently misquoted regarding what he may have said to Trevor about his old club, who have been reported as being willing to offer left back Michael Gray in part exchange for Trevor's services.
Glenn Roeder's comment that he favours cash deals in general, but in the case of Trevor would prefer no deal at all, rules out that scenario.
And Peter Reid himself says that he is not looking to lose the player as he is 'integral' to his plans.
As for those alleged comments from Don, he insists:
"I wasn't trying to be disrespectful about Sunderland because I speak to Peter Reid and Adrian Heath all the time; even since I have been down here I have kept in touch with them.
"Reidy is a good manager and a good friend as well and I was not being disrespectful to Sunderland by saying 'you don't want to join them'.
"I was just trying to say I'd rather keep him here.
"I tell Reidy all the time 'you don't want him, he's no good'!
"But Reidy knows what a good player Trevor is."
He stresses that he has nothing but good to say about his former club and adds:
"What would be perfect for me is if Sunderland finish sixth or seventh and we are a place above them.
"If we both get to Europe it would be the icing on the cake for us."
Don says losing Trevor would be a big blow, but insists a few more wins might just change his mind.
"If we win the next two games against Charlton and Fulham we might end up in the top seven," says Don, "and all of a sudden Trevor will think 'why do I need to go to a big club if we are lying sixth or seventh?'
"It is our job to try and convince him to stay - and I hope we can.
"He has obviously made a brave step to put his transfer request in, and that is the statement that he thought he had to do.
"But we'll be doing it for ourselves, Trev, and the gaffer and if we get a few wins on the trot we might be able to change his mind."
Don has been impressed by Trevor's attitude and form despite handing in that transfer request, and explains:
"He is a good professional and it would have been easy for him to go off the rails a little bit to get a move.
"But he is doing it the right way, on the park, and that is the only way a massive club is going to come in for him.
"We are glad he is doing it on the pitch; he's a good lad.
"I knew him a little bit through Daniele Dichio, as they are good mates, but I didn't know how talented a player he was until I came down.
"Trevor has got lots of good assets, and pace and strength are definitely two of them."
Don was recently misquoted regarding what he may have said to Trevor about his old club, who have been reported as being willing to offer left back Michael Gray in part exchange for Trevor's services.
Glenn Roeder's comment that he favours cash deals in general, but in the case of Trevor would prefer no deal at all, rules out that scenario.
And Peter Reid himself says that he is not looking to lose the player as he is 'integral' to his plans.
As for those alleged comments from Don, he insists:
"I wasn't trying to be disrespectful about Sunderland because I speak to Peter Reid and Adrian Heath all the time; even since I have been down here I have kept in touch with them.
"Reidy is a good manager and a good friend as well and I was not being disrespectful to Sunderland by saying 'you don't want to join them'.
"I was just trying to say I'd rather keep him here.
"I tell Reidy all the time 'you don't want him, he's no good'!
"But Reidy knows what a good player Trevor is."
He stresses that he has nothing but good to say about his former club and adds:
"What would be perfect for me is if Sunderland finish sixth or seventh and we are a place above them.
"If we both get to Europe it would be the icing on the cake for us."