Grant starts work

Avram Grant has paid his first visit to Chadwell Heath after being officially confirmed as West Ham United manager.

Fresh from getting the green light to start work, Grant visited the club's training ground. There, he spoke to staff members about his plans and vision for the future of the club.

The 55-year-old was also taken on a tour of the facilities, viewing the newly re-laid training pitches, gymnasiums, medical treatment rooms, the canteen, indoor pitch and media centre.

Grant was in good spirits, having had his work permit application rubber-stamped by the Home Office on Tuesday evening.

"I am very happy to be able to start work," said the manager. "Everything is in place now to start work properly and I am looking forward to it. It was good to be at the training ground at last and meet the staff."

The manager will spend the next three weeks preparing for the start of pre-season on Monday 5 July. He was "delighted" to have already added Germany midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger to the squad and has identified other areas in need of strengthening.

Grant added: "I can't wait for July because I like to work on the pitch. The next two or three weeks is important because we can sign players, take care off the staff and get everything in place for the start of training."

Vastly experienced in European and international football, the manager is well aware of the standing of the club at home and abroad. He has pledged to take the club forward in a respectful way.

"This is a club with a lot of history," he said. "It is a big history but our face is now for the future. It is right that we remember and respect the tradition of the club but our target is to move forward. We will play attacking football but attack with intelligence and balance. This is what the fans expect and how we want to develop."