West Ham United's Legal and Commercial Director, Scott
Duxbury, insists that today's FA Cup final isn't only the
culmination of a fantastic season - it also marks the beginning of
a bright new future for the Club.
The man responsible for over-seeing the planning, building and structure of the Club as a global sporting brand says that the showpiece occasion at the Millennium Stadium is an example of what Hammers fans can look forward to on more regular basis as part of the vision for success in the years ahead.
Scott says: "We've enjoyed a fantastic season by anyone's estimation and it really has exceeded expectation, but our appearance in the FA Cup final is certainly not the end of the story - in fact it's only the beginning.
"We did say at the start of the season that we wouldn't be happy with just surviving in the Premiership, and that our goal would be to invest in the playing staff and invest off the field via our commercial activities to make sure that we actually flourished in the top flight.
"Our aim was to secure European football for next season and, while some people may raise an eyebrow about that, we always felt it was a realistic ambition. Unless you have goals and targets, then you're never going to achieve them.
"The FA Cup is the icing on the cake this season, but I am sure there is more to come. People say to me: 'How can it get any better than this?' but why? I believe it can be better.
"We've clearly got to invest in the playing squad and keep pushing the Club forward, but there is no reason why we can't move on from here and enjoy regular UEFA Cup football, and have a long-term target - if not medium-term - of playing in the Champions League.
"I don't think anyone should be ridiculed for aiming to reach the top and, in my opinion, that is where this Club is heading. Everything about this Club is geared towards success. People talk about how quickly we have gained success this season and, yes, it is fairly unusual for it to happen so quickly, but our position shouldn't be an unusual situation for a Club like West Ham United.
"We should be in the top 10 of the Premiership, we should be in FA Cup finals, and we should be playing European football. Going forward, they should be regular targets for us and we are committed to providing the supporters with more of the wonderful occasions they will experience at the Millennium Stadium today."
Read more from Scott Duxbury about the Club's exciting plans for next season and its long-term future, next week on whufc.com…
The man responsible for over-seeing the planning, building and structure of the Club as a global sporting brand says that the showpiece occasion at the Millennium Stadium is an example of what Hammers fans can look forward to on more regular basis as part of the vision for success in the years ahead.
Scott says: "We've enjoyed a fantastic season by anyone's estimation and it really has exceeded expectation, but our appearance in the FA Cup final is certainly not the end of the story - in fact it's only the beginning.
"We did say at the start of the season that we wouldn't be happy with just surviving in the Premiership, and that our goal would be to invest in the playing staff and invest off the field via our commercial activities to make sure that we actually flourished in the top flight.
"Our aim was to secure European football for next season and, while some people may raise an eyebrow about that, we always felt it was a realistic ambition. Unless you have goals and targets, then you're never going to achieve them.
"The FA Cup is the icing on the cake this season, but I am sure there is more to come. People say to me: 'How can it get any better than this?' but why? I believe it can be better.
"We've clearly got to invest in the playing squad and keep pushing the Club forward, but there is no reason why we can't move on from here and enjoy regular UEFA Cup football, and have a long-term target - if not medium-term - of playing in the Champions League.
"I don't think anyone should be ridiculed for aiming to reach the top and, in my opinion, that is where this Club is heading. Everything about this Club is geared towards success. People talk about how quickly we have gained success this season and, yes, it is fairly unusual for it to happen so quickly, but our position shouldn't be an unusual situation for a Club like West Ham United.
"We should be in the top 10 of the Premiership, we should be in FA Cup finals, and we should be playing European football. Going forward, they should be regular targets for us and we are committed to providing the supporters with more of the wonderful occasions they will experience at the Millennium Stadium today."
Read more from Scott Duxbury about the Club's exciting plans for next season and its long-term future, next week on whufc.com…