- Chris Woods and Julian Dicks have signed new two-year contracts with the Club
- Goalkeeper coach Woods is a former England international and European Cup winner
- West Ham United legend Dicks returned to the Club as a coaching assistant in 2015
After a successful first season on the backroom staff, former England stopper Woods and Hammers legend Dicks have been rewarded with new deals by manager Slaven Bilic and the Board.
Under Woods’ guidance, Adrian enjoyed another stellar season, being named in Spain’s provisional squad for UEFA Euro 2016, while Darren Randolph produced a series of strong displays to earn his position as Republic of Ireland No1 for this summer’s tournament.
Dicks, who forged a close relationship with manager Bilic during their playing days in east London, has added knowledge and passion to the Croatian’s experienced backroom team, which played a pivotal role in a final season at the Boleyn Ground.
Everyone works well together and this is one of the best team spirits I have been part of. The players are top class
A European Cup winner who was capped 43 times by England, Woods said: “It has been brilliant to be involved with the Club in the final ever season at the Boleyn Ground. This is an exciting time moving forward and it is great for me to be part of that.
“Slaven has made me feel so welcome and he has been fantastic to work with since the day I arrived. He leaves no stone unturned and his enthusiasm rubs off on everybody.
“It has been a great privilege for me to work for a Club with such great tradition. Hopefully we can grow even stronger.
“Everyone works well together and this is one of the best team spirits I have been part of. The players are top class.”
“Slaven has made me feel so welcome and he has been fantastic to work with since the day I arrived. He leaves no stone unturned and his enthusiasm rubs off on everybody.
“It has been a great privilege for me to work for a Club with such great tradition. Hopefully we can grow even stronger.
“Everyone works well together and this is one of the best team spirits I have been part of. The players are top class.”
Woods has particularly relished the opportunity to work with West Ham’s stable of goalkeepers, helping Adrian, Randolph and England U19 star Sam Howes to catch the eye of their respective national-team coaches.
“I have really enjoyed coaching Adrian, Darren and the other young goalkeepers and they have been different class to work on a daily basis,” Woods confirmed. “They learn from each other and hopefully my experience as well!
“We are a close-knit group and you need that bond and relationship if you are going be successful.”
Having made 326 appearances and scored 65 goals in Claret and Blue, Dicks jumped at the chance to make a return to his beloved Club last summer.
Posting on his Instagram page, the Terminator expressed his delight at extending his stay in east London: “Over the moon to say I’ve just signed a new two-year contract.”
Woods, Dicks and the first-team squad will return to pre-season training on Friday 1 July, before jetting out to the United States for a two-match tour taking in fixtures with Seattle Sounders and Carolina RailHawks.
“I have really enjoyed coaching Adrian, Darren and the other young goalkeepers and they have been different class to work on a daily basis,” Woods confirmed. “They learn from each other and hopefully my experience as well!
“We are a close-knit group and you need that bond and relationship if you are going be successful.”
Having made 326 appearances and scored 65 goals in Claret and Blue, Dicks jumped at the chance to make a return to his beloved Club last summer.
Posting on his Instagram page, the Terminator expressed his delight at extending his stay in east London: “Over the moon to say I’ve just signed a new two-year contract.”
Woods, Dicks and the first-team squad will return to pre-season training on Friday 1 July, before jetting out to the United States for a two-match tour taking in fixtures with Seattle Sounders and Carolina RailHawks.