Scott Parker has sent a message to West Ham fans in his first words as the club's new manager, expressing his pride at returning to a club that "means so much" to him and his family.
The former Hammers midfielder has been appointed on a two-and-a-half-year contract to succeed Nuno Espirito Santo, who was sacked on Monday following a disappointing start to the Championship season.
Parker's return to West Ham
Parker had been out of work since leaving Burnley by mutual consent in April following confirmation of their relegation from the Premier League. He is a second-tier promotion specialist, having previously led Bournemouth, Fulham and Burnley to the top-flight.
"It is a very proud moment for me to step into this role and return to a Club that means so much to me and my family," Parker said. "A lot of very fond memories of my time here - four years of probably the best football I played in my career."
Message to the fanbase
Parker, who spent four years as a player at West Ham, highlighted the relationship he built with the supporters during his time at the club.
"There was a warmth, a love, a feeling that I probably didn't have anywhere else. There was something which stood out constantly and that was the relationship that I built up with the fanbase here. That rapport and respect, that I felt instantly," he said.
"More than anything, this is an opportunity that I am very excited about. I feel privileged and honoured to be the guy that wants to lead us back to the Premier League and be the Head Coach of this Football Club at this moment in time."
Ambition to return to the Premier League
Parker said his energy and desire are "absolutely running through" and that he shares the vision of the club's owners to return West Ham to the Premier League as quickly as possible.
"From my first calls with Karim [Virani] and Daniel [Křetínský], it was clear they have a shared vision and desire to return the Club to the Premier League as quickly as possible. I share that ambition and I'm very confident we can achieve it," he added.
"I've been in this division three times and I've got out of this division three times. This is a tough division, there is absolutely no denying it. And I will use every ounce of my experience, every ounce of my knowledge, to have an understanding of what we're going to need to bring consistency."
"And that's going to be the key word for all of us really. The consistency of what we do and the commitment levels that we go to will give us the best opportunity to get out of this division and be the team that we can be."
