Reo-Coker blasts Hammers
06 Jul 2007 - 07:22:17
Nigel Reo-Coker launched a thinly-veiled attack on West Ham United after completing his £8.5million move to Aston Villa.
Reo-Coker, 23, joined the Midlands club on a four-year contract to bring to an end a protracted chase for Villa boss Martin O'Neill that had stretched back to the end of last season.
But after putting pen to paper at Villa Park, a disgruntled Reo-Coker took a swipe at his former club.
The England Under-21 captain asked to be placed on the transfer list after receiving abuse from the terraces and even hate mail as the Hammers narrowly avoided relegation from the Premier League last season.
"This is a fresh start for me, a new beginning and I do not want to dwell on the past," he said.
"I'm the sort of person who looks forward rather than backwards and I could spend hours talking about what went on at West Ham.
"A lot of things went on at West Ham. It was an experience which has hardened me, but I don't think it was an experience anyone should be forced to go through, like I was, at the age of 22.
"But it has made me a stronger character and I will now channel that in the right way.
"People ask me if I felt out was hung out to dry at West Ham and I believe I was. I believe I was made the scapegoat.
"If people want to see me as obnoxious or bitter about what went on then that's their prerogative.
"But my honest opinion was that I was hung out to dry."