Alvin Optimistic

Alvin Martin believes that everyone associated with West Ham must now look forward - and not dwell on the disappointment of relegation.

"It is about looking forward; you can't look back in football - though there are lessons to be learned," he insists.

"Positively, you have to look ahead to next season, even if you have to say we weren't happy with the way the season went.

"I think with the players that are here and the club in the condition that it is in, in terms of potential, you have got to push forward.

"It is all about coming up in style - and I don't see any reason why that can't happen next season.

"There has been some 'natural wastage' and there may be some players going that we don't want to go, but, having said that, if they do go they will go for the right money, and that will give the manager the chance to go out and invest in other areas of the field.

"I don't think it is all doom and gloom although it is obviously a devastating effect to have gone down.

"It is amazing in football how quickly it all gets going again; people look forward to the new season and we have to look to dominating that division."

Alvin believes that if the objective is achieved at the first attempt, the club's progress will not have been hampered.

"If we do come up in real style, as I said, there is no reason why we can't come back even stronger than when we left the Premiership," he stresses.

"We are all bitterly disappointed and the run came too late, but at least it proved there was real quality within the side.

"I think if we can get the consistency and get a good start to next season we can really enjoy the football.

"The fans, I know, enjoy football full stop and I think if the fans are seeing their side knock the ball about and dominating, totally blowing people away, then I think they will come.