Alan Curbishley is proud of what he has achieved after a year in charge of West Ham United. The former Charlton Athletic manager took up the reins of the club on December 13 last year, but was labelled "a donkey" and "a clown" following a 6-0 defeat at Reading on New Year's Day that left West Ham staring relegation in the face.

"I've been at the club a year, and it's been an interesting year to say the least," Curbishley said. "After my first five games with West Ham, I was a 'donkey' and a 'clown', but I took it with a pinch of salt because the experience I had of 15 years at Charlton held me in good stead.

"I'd never want to go through what we did again, and the way we did it, but the experience got me through it.

"But coming into West Ham, I did say a year ago there was a short term brief to try to stay up, and a long-term brief to build the club, and that's what I'm trying to do. So I have to say I'm satisfied with my first year because going into a club with 14 points from 17 games, you are in a relegation battle.

"I was then hoping to build in the summer and make the club a lot stronger, and that's what I'm still trying to do."

When asked to how he viewed himself now, Curbishley said: "I don't know. Probably a hero."

Despite rumours linking him with the England manager's job, Curbishley is more than happy at West Ham where he admits to being locked into a contract. "When I joined West Ham I never sought any clauses," he said. "I had them in my contract at Charlton, but I've none here at West Ham. It's the club I want to be at, it's the first year and I'm hoping to push on.

"That's why I said a couple of months ago that this is my club and I want to do well here. I've no thoughts of anything else."