Hunger is an immeasurable quality, but it is exactly that desire that Alan Curbishley will take back to West Ham United. After his appointment as manager yesterday, only two days after Alan Pardew’s dismissal, the former West Ham player and fan let it be known in no uncertain terms of what he expected from his ailing team.

Curbishley also revealed that he had sought advice from Sir Alex Ferguson, the doyen of Barclays Premiership managers, before deciding to sip from the poisoned chalice at Upton Park. That the Manchester United manager gave an approving nod as good as settled Curbishley’s mind.

It was the desire — to win again, after five defeats in six matches, and to escape the relegation zone — that concerned Curbishley most. West Ham have stumbled from one crisis to another this season and it has pained him to watch from afar. “Last season, we had that newly promoted hunger and I think we were also galvanised by the fans,” he said. “We have to get that back and quickly.

“You’ve only got to look at Sheffield United and Watford [promoted last season]. They get beaten, but they go into training on Monday all aggressive about it and ready to get going again. It’s because it’s all fresh and new to them.

“I’m convinced we have the players to get us out of danger. I know that they have had a lot of criticism, but they have to respond to that. We have more or less the same bunch as last season and they must prove that they are better than what they’re producing. In terms of my expectation levels, the gloves are off.”

Curbishley, 49, has signed a 3½-year contract believed to be worth almost £2 million annually. His heart might have ruled his head, anyway — he supported West Ham as a boy and played for them for four years in the late 1970s — but chatting to Ferguson convinced the former Charlton Athletic manager to end his self-imposed seven-month exile from the game.

Coincidentally, Curbishley’s first match in charge is against United at Upton Park on Sunday. Worryingly, United are not only the league leaders but also the only team Charlton failed to beat in the top flight during Curbishley’s 15-year reign at the club.

“I spoke to Alex this week and, yes, he reminded me of that,” Curbishley said. “But it will be a special day on Sunday, as it always is when United arrive, and although they are playing really well, we will see what happens. We spoke about West Ham, about them being third off bottom, but Alex said that so were United when he took over there 20 years ago.

“We didn’t have too serious a chat — I think he was writing his Christmas cards and wanted to get back to them — but he had his sticky periods at United, as I did at Charlton, and the club stuck by him.”

On Curbishley’s left on the podium at Upton Park sat the bald-headed figure of Eggert Magnússon, the new chairman, who pledged “total support” for Pardew after his Icelandic consortium had completed its £85 million buyout. Four matches after he had effectively taken control, Pardew was deemed unfit to carry on.

Curbishley was unfazed by Magnússon’s abrupt about-turn. “If you let the manager manage, that’s all you can ask for,” he said. “I have been assured that I have total control over the playing side and I look forward to that.”

Magnússon defended the decision to part company with Pardew. “It is difficult to be a chairman,” he said. “Sometimes you have to make difficult decisions. But I hope that we have found a manager who will stay at West Ham for a long time. Alan was always our first choice.”

With funds of about £20 million at his disposal, Curbishley can consider buying big when the transfer window opens next month. Should Teddy Sheringham, the 40-year-old striker, not fit into his plans, Blackburn Rovers are poised to renew their long-standing interest.

In the short term, Curbishley expects no favours because of his East End upbringing. “West Ham have been a big part of my life,” he said. “I was born in Forest Gate, brought up in Canning Town and played for the club. But that’s not going to keep us up.”