Chairman Delighted To Secure Pards' Future

WEST Ham United is pleased to confirm that manager Alan Pardew has agreed an extension to his contract at Upton Park.

The five-year extension has been agreed and the Hammers boss will complete the paperwork when the squad return from the North West after this weekend's game against Liverpool at Anfield.

West Ham United Chairman Terry Brown is delighted to have agreed the contract extension with the manager who guided the Club back to the Premiership via the glorious scenes at the Play-off Final in May.

Terry Brown said: "I am delighted that Alan Pardew has committed his future to this Club. He is one of the brightest young managers in the game and we are proud to have him at Upton Park.
 
"I have already paid tribute to the leadership qualities that brought West Ham United promotion to the Premier League but he has achieved much more than that over the last two years.
 
"Alan has shown himself to be a shrewd judge in the transfer market and I have been particularly impressed by the way he balances the success on the field against the business demands of this Club. It has enabled us to put West Ham United in a strong financial position and build on last season's successes rather than simply stabilise.
 
"He has built an exciting young squad in the tradition of West Ham United and the club is full of optimism for the future."

Pards arrived at Upton Park in October 2003, having built a reputation as one of the game's most promising young managers during his time with Reading.

He guided the Club to the brink of a Premier League return in his first season at Upton Park, but Hammers were defeated in the 2004 Play-off Final by Crystal Palace.

There would be glory for Hammers at the Millennium Stadium a year later though when, in just his first full season at Upton Park, Pards led West Ham United back into the top-flight of English football.