West Ham United are delighted to confirm that Steve Clarke has put pen to paper on a new contract that will keep him at the club until at least summer 2013.
The first-team coach was joined by CEO Scott Duxbury in signing his contract at the Boleyn Ground on Tuesday afternoon to follow in the footsteps of Gianfranco Zola, who had finalised his own long-term deal last Saturday. Clarke has more than played his part in the team's fine form since arriving back in mid-September with the club riding high in eighth place and, with four games to go, still in with a chance of UEFA Europa League qualification.
Having achieved much during a distinguished playing and coaching career at Chelsea, Clarke has enhanced his reputation at the Boleyn Ground. However, the 45-year-old is not content to simply rest on his laurels and is hungry to take the club to the next level. "I am delighted," he said. "I have had a great time since I came here. We have done OK. There is a lot more still to be done and the contract reflects that.
"It is a long-term contract and what Gianfranco and myself and the rest of the coaching staff look forward to is improving things and working hard every year to make things better and better at this football club."
The Scot paid tribute to his colleagues at Chadwell Heath, emphasising the importance of a closely-knit unit. "There is a close working relationship between us all. I think it is important as the players would spot straight away a weakness between the coaching staff. The manager and his staff have to be close and they have to believe in the same things. That is what we do and we try and give that message to the players and so far it has been OK."
With key player after key player affirming their long-term commitment, Clarke paid tribute to the continued backing given by the CEO and the technical director Gianluca Nani. "It is a big statement by the club. They want to keep this project together. They want the players to be part of it, the management to be part of it. Hopefully next year we will get more success than we have had this year. Not that I am saying this year wasn't good but we can be better - so we keep striving."
Having overseen his initial appointment, Duxbury said Clarke was central to his vision to make West Ham United successful in the years to come. "Everyone knows how hard we worked to bring Steve here alongside Gianfranco last September and we have been rewarded for that effort. He is a major part of what we are trying to achieve and the respect he has at all levels of the club is clear to see.
"Like Gianfranco, Steve is a winner and someone who is used to success. We are all very confident that he can help move West Ham United to the next level by passing on his knowledge and expertise to the experienced internationals we have in the squad as well as our hugely talented youngsters."