Nigel Winterburn admits that he might retire from football before
the season is out.
In a candid appraisal of his situation, he confesses that the rigours of top flight football on his body mean that there is a possibility he will stop playing before his contract expires next summer.
"I'm finding it difficult to recover after games, and I will make an assessment as the season goes on and see how things go," he reveals.
"At my age I need to be playing regular football, and if Glenn said to me at some stage he wanted to move in another direction and play someone else in the squad, or bring someone else in, I would look at it then.
"I don't want to be playing reserve team football - I've had a fantastic career and want to end it on a high note.
"If I felt that my form was not good enough over a period of time, and I was to have several bad games on the trot, I would question myself as to whether it is because of my age and whether I am putting in performances that are good enough for the Premiership.
"If I didn't meet that standard I would sit down with Glenn and decide from there.
"At this moment in time that is not an issue, it is just about getting up the league.
"It has been common knowledge that I have said this season could probably be my last.
"Even to look beyond this season for me is physically impossible and it is all dependent on circumstances.
"At the moment my main concentration is getting West Ham into a decent position up the league and anything after that we will look at when the time comes."
Last year he was pipped at the post to Hammer of the year by Stuart Pearce, and says:
"Last year was frustrating as we struggled in the league - and the FA cup ended in disappointment.
"It would be nice for the fans to say they thought I played consistently well for them, but now we are talking about another season and I have to prove all over again that I can put it in and keep in the team.
"The day I feel that doesn't happen is the day I would retire."
He is not contemplating dropping down a division as Stuart Pearce did and says:
"I'd love to carry on, but I'd only do that if the situation was right at the club I was at - which is West Ham.
"I'm not looking any further than that; I question myself every day to see if I am still hungry enough to play in the Premiership.
"At the moment the answer is 'yes' and when that turns to 'no' I know it will be time to walk away - whether that be in a month's time, six months' time or at the end of this contract, I just don't know.
"I'm not saying I'm going to pack in at any given time - but I'm being realistic and saying it could be during this season.
"I have no plans to retire and don't want to, but I have to be realistic.
"I physically can't train every day, and for people that haven't played professionally that is probably hard to understand.
"The most important thing, though, is to be fit for the Saturday games - and it is not as if I just come in on the Friday."
Playing 4-4-2 is certainly helping Nigel prolong his career but he says:
"I do like playing in a back four - but I would play anywhere to help the team, and if I have to play wing back then so be it."
In a candid appraisal of his situation, he confesses that the rigours of top flight football on his body mean that there is a possibility he will stop playing before his contract expires next summer.
"I'm finding it difficult to recover after games, and I will make an assessment as the season goes on and see how things go," he reveals.
"At my age I need to be playing regular football, and if Glenn said to me at some stage he wanted to move in another direction and play someone else in the squad, or bring someone else in, I would look at it then.
"I don't want to be playing reserve team football - I've had a fantastic career and want to end it on a high note.
"If I felt that my form was not good enough over a period of time, and I was to have several bad games on the trot, I would question myself as to whether it is because of my age and whether I am putting in performances that are good enough for the Premiership.
"If I didn't meet that standard I would sit down with Glenn and decide from there.
"At this moment in time that is not an issue, it is just about getting up the league.
"It has been common knowledge that I have said this season could probably be my last.
"Even to look beyond this season for me is physically impossible and it is all dependent on circumstances.
"At the moment my main concentration is getting West Ham into a decent position up the league and anything after that we will look at when the time comes."
Last year he was pipped at the post to Hammer of the year by Stuart Pearce, and says:
"Last year was frustrating as we struggled in the league - and the FA cup ended in disappointment.
"It would be nice for the fans to say they thought I played consistently well for them, but now we are talking about another season and I have to prove all over again that I can put it in and keep in the team.
"The day I feel that doesn't happen is the day I would retire."
He is not contemplating dropping down a division as Stuart Pearce did and says:
"I'd love to carry on, but I'd only do that if the situation was right at the club I was at - which is West Ham.
"I'm not looking any further than that; I question myself every day to see if I am still hungry enough to play in the Premiership.
"At the moment the answer is 'yes' and when that turns to 'no' I know it will be time to walk away - whether that be in a month's time, six months' time or at the end of this contract, I just don't know.
"I'm not saying I'm going to pack in at any given time - but I'm being realistic and saying it could be during this season.
"I have no plans to retire and don't want to, but I have to be realistic.
"I physically can't train every day, and for people that haven't played professionally that is probably hard to understand.
"The most important thing, though, is to be fit for the Saturday games - and it is not as if I just come in on the Friday."
Playing 4-4-2 is certainly helping Nigel prolong his career but he says:
"I do like playing in a back four - but I would play anywhere to help the team, and if I have to play wing back then so be it."