Tommy Bides His Time

Young defender Tommy Williams could be leaving West Ham this summer - though he will wait to talk to the new manager before committing himself elsewhere.

Tom still has a year of his deal to run, but will be allowed to move without a fee as long as there is a hefty sell on clause attached to the transfer.

"I'm 90% sure it will be Peterborough United," says the left sided player, who has also attracted firm interest fron Wrexham, Gillingham, and Colchester.

"I'm very close to a deal with them, having spoken to Glenn Roeder and Roger Cross they think it would be a good move for me.

"It's a good standard of football and I need to get the experience.

"I need to get 50 or 100 league games under my belt because I've only played reserve or non-league football.

"The only stumbling block is to wait for the new manager and I will wait until the end of June, see how the new manager is thinking.

"Peterborough are very very keen on me and I enjoyed my time there on loan even though I got injured and only played one and a half games."

Amidst claims from Barry Fry that he has asked for four times what he is earning at West Ham, however, he says simply that he does not want to take a pay cut.

"You expect to be paid quite well in the first team wherever you are. But it's experience that I need, and I need to show I can do it on a regular basis."

His other possibility is to stay at West Ham but go out on loan for a season - thus giving him a lifeline at West Ham.

"It would be an option but you can't really choose these things.

"Peterborough are my kind of team because they play 4-4-2 and it's harder to find the right kind of team when you play wide than when you are a central player.

"I think Barry Fry phoned Harry about 20 times and then it was put on to Paul Aldridge.

"Barry has said I can have as much time as I want and that he won't be signing anyone else in my position."

Tom reckons Glenn Roeder would be a good choice as successor to Harry, and says: "I think he has got all the attributes, as he is very good at man management  and has a good rapport with the players already."

Glenn worked closely with the fringe players such as Tom, who adds: "When I came my right leg was only for standing on and he helped me develop.

"I know a lot of the players think very highly of him, and I don't think there is one player that he has worked with who has not improved under him.

"But you have to be able to manage the top players as well.

"He doesn't have a bad word to say about anyone and you never know - he might be given the nod."