Football Corner

West Ham manager Alan Pardew has agreed a new five year deal at Upton Park that will keep him at the club until 2010. Pardew has had a very strange carrer at West Ham because it was only two seasons ago when the fans were booing him but he has managed to steer them into the Premiership. He is set to sign the deal after Saturday's match at Liverpool. "I am delighted that Alan Pardew has committed his future to this club. "He is one of the brightest young managers in the game and we are proud to have him at Upton Park," chairman Terry Brown told the club website.

"I have already paid tribute to the leadership qualities that brought West Ham United promotion to the Premier League but he has achieved much more than that over the last two years. "Alan has shown himself to be a shrewd judge in the transfer market and I have been particularly impressed by the way he balances the success on the field against the business demands of this club. "It has enabled us to put West Ham United in a strong financial position and build on last season's successes rather than simply stabilise. "He has built an exciting young squad in the tradition of West Ham United and the club is full of optimism for the future."

Good news for West Ham and their fans because he has really done well since he got the job and others may think otherwise because in his first few months he certainly wasn't the most likeable carecter at the club. The deal will last until 2010 and I wouldn't bet against them qualifying for Europe by then.