The Loan Ranger

Glenn Roeder is hoping to persuade several Premiership players to come to Upton Park on loan as he looks to freshen up his squad for the new season.

Judicious use of the loan system will, he believes, provide a partial answer to his problem of lack of numbers, and the rigid transfer deadline does not apply to such moves.

"It doesn't affect us in terms of us being able to bring players into the club; that is important.

"If, by the time we get to the 1st of September and we are still looking for a couple of players, we can get those players after the 1st of September.

"The transfer windows cost us dearly last year and it is something I don't agree with.

"But they don't affect us in terms of bringing players in, whether they are permanent or loan deals, and the loans market is obviously a market that I need to do well in this year.

"As and when I need to call on favours from other managers, especially in the Premiership, I hope they will help me out.

"At the moment it is difficult to get a few players that I have my eye on out of their respective clubs - simply because it is pre-season and all the players are working on their fitness.

"The respective managers are running the eye over all their squad and making their minds up on who their squads are going to be and who they can let out on loan.

"I am sure during the season we will get some quality into the team through loan deals.

"I already have some promises from quite a few Premiership managers that they will do whatever they can to help out this year, which is nice to know."

Glenn hopes that the club's facilities and back-up team make West Ham an attractive place to come, and adds: "I am sure that some of the targets that we are trying to bring in will take the view that it is a good career move to come to West Ham, even if it is only for two or three months on loan to start with."

Glenn feels, despite the disappointment of defeat at Wycombe on Tuesday, a sense of purpose for the new campaign ahead, and he adds: "They have all had to overcome disappointment and are all positive. I am not hearing talk of what happened last year - which I don't want to hear.

"We are all sad about that, but we are well into the time when you have to look forward and they are doing that.

"They are all focusing on next season and the goal that we want and must achieve, which is promotion to the Premiership.

"The first division is full of teams that have dropped out of the Premiership and haven't been able to get back and it makes it an attractive first division this year.

"But our target must be from the first game at Preston North End to bounce back the first time.

"As and when I can bring in new players I must make sure they can bring something to the team.

"You don't want to get to that situation of bringing in bodies for the sake of it, it is the last thing you want to do.

"West Ham have some very high standards to maintain and we will do everything we can to maintain them this season to give us the best chance of getting promoted."