Trevor: I Don't Want Job

Trevor Brooking reveals he will not be looking to take over as manager of West Ham on a permanent basis - while paying tribute to the hard work Glenn Roeder has put in, particularly during what he admits has been a "traumatic" time for the club recently.

Trevor, in temporary charge of team affairs for the Bradford and Ipswich games, candidly admits: "It is a fact that relegation happened, as disappointed as we are, and the financial implications are inescapable.

"But we need to mount a promotion challenge and maintain a positive focus on that.

"The new players have not sampled what the crowd is like and it has been a traumatic time."

Revealing that he will not consider taking over as manager on a full time basis, he says: "It is a difficult situation but I am not comfortable in the role of stepping into Glenn's shoes."

He says his role in the short term bears no comparison with when he took over for the last three games of last season after Glenn collapsed with a brain tumour.

"This is a totally different situation from the end of last season. I am not looking at that, and it is just a case of getting on and doing the job in the next two weeks, and trying to get a couple of results until we find a successor," he insists.

"We have to try and give the club a bit of breathing space to make the appointment, and I will keep my head down and let events take their course - last season was a different kettle of fish completely."

Regarding who succeeds Glenn as what will be only the 10th manager in the club's history, Trevor reveals: "It is a difficult job which has its problems - and whoever takes over will have to be strong to get a grip on the different personalities the club has.

"It is one of those situations where we will see what emerges; but all I am asking for in the meantime is for the attitude to be there.

"We need that commitment or we will be in a lot of trouble in this division; we need people who will sweat blood for the club - that is the least the fans demand.

"Whatever the rights and wrongs of what has happened you have got to look at the two games this week, Bradford at home and Ipswich away, and then, because of internationals, the Nottingham Forest game won't happen so we have until mid-September and the Reading game, after a two week break, for the club to do their homework and appoint somebody before that match.

"In the meantime we have to try and win the crowd over, try and get them to give us their total support so the new lads can feel what it is really like at Upton Park to get the crowd behind you - and give them something to shout about so that we can try and carry over a decent result to Ipswich.

"You want to give whoever takes over as many points as you can to start them off; then we can put a line across what has been a tough summer for the club, the fans, and Glenn."

Paying tribute to Glenn, Trevor says: "It is difficult, when those who know Glenn Roeder well, know what a really decent and committed man he has been - and what hard work he has done for the club.

"You couldn't get a more genuine, decent and committed person than Glenn and I can understand the upset he and his family must be feeling.

"I couldn't respect him any more and have to say he is an absolute gentleman. I feel huge sympathy for him regarding the illness he had but of course he showed a lot of courage coming back from that.

"Players have come and gone and it must have been hugely difficult for him - we have to acknowledge and respect the tough situation Glenn has been in this summer.

"All we can do is try and move the club on and get behind the team tonight, hoping the fans can give the players a lift."

Regarding the fact that his departure comes after just four games of the new campaign, Trevor admits: "You can argue the rights and wrongs of the timing but now we must try and go forward."

Trevor was not present to witness what turned out to be Glenn Roeder's last game in charge and he says: "To be honest, unfortunately I didn't see the Rotherham game because I was working for Radio 5 Live at Chelsea - so I had to rely on the feedback of lots of other people, obviously including board members.

"It was obviously pretty dreadful otherwise the situation that developed over the weekend wouldn't have occurred.

"It has all happened so quickly with the players moving out, the newcomers, the financial implications, and it has been tough for everyone; none more so than Glenn in the position he was."

With the general transfer window set to come into force in just a few days' time, it remains to be seen how that will affect matters, but the implications for clubs in the first division are not the same as for Premiership sides.

"In terms of the transfer window it might be easier when that closes in the sense that at the moment Premiership clubs can loan to each other so first division clubs are down the pecking order but after that there will be more opportunity," says Trevor.