West Ham United Football Club News

• Nickname:Hammers
• Founded:1895
• Manager:Sam Allardyce

• Ground:Upton Park
• Capacity:35,595

Pardew backs double deal

05 Sep 2006 - 10:59:17

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West Ham United manager Alan Pardew has admitted that he is disappointed by the reaction the club's double signing of Argentinian duo Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano has provoked.

The Hammers announced the controversial double signing last Thursday just before exploratory takeover talks for the club were confirmed.

Media Sports Investments owned the rights to the two 22-year-olds when they played for Brazilian side Corinthians and have been linked with a takeover.

But Pardew said: "A lot of the press has been negative, people don't like change.

"But the transfer system is changing rapidly. Transfers across the board and the role of agencies in terms of buying players is changing.

"But some of the things printed about this one - like shady dealing - there's just no truth in it, as far as I'm concerned.

"These two guys are on the world stage and they've come to us in a manner that is undisclosed. But I can't worry about that, I'm the team manager. I've put the terms of the deal to the back of my mind.

"I just want to work with them. They've signed four-year contracts, people have forgotten that already, and I can assure you they will not be leaving in the next transfer window.

"We want to challenge the biggest clubs in our division and this deal is going to help us do that.

"But I will never be forced to play either of them - as has also been suggested. If that was the case I wouldn't be here anymore."