David Sullivan: It's like being eaten alive in the transfer window bearpit

Splashing the cash: West Ham owner David SullivanMaybe it is theposition we are in,but this has been themost stressful time Ican ever rememberin football. Nobody wants tohelp, of course. Whyshould they? Money istight so it's a case ofdoing yourhomework and beingselective with yourgambling.Yesterday, we signed18-year-old strikerPaul McCullum fromDulwich Hamlet for asmall fee. It couldprove to be thesigning of thewindow, if he fulfilshis potential. A fewother clubs wantedhim, but we movedquickly; he's one forthe future and ourclub has a reputationfor giving young players a chance. We'llsee how he develops.More immediately, Ittook us 10 days tocomplete the loansigning of Robbie Keanewith a view to thetransfer becomingpermanent, if WestHam stay in theBarclays PremierLeague. In other words,I hope it is a permanentdeal. He is a very goodsigning and the fans willreally take to his styleof play. The Demba Badeal took three weeksto structure andcomplete and he willalso be an excitingcapture. The transfer windowhas taken over my lifethis month. I knew I hadto do something andwe have signed fourplayers. Wayne Bridgeis another who hasmade an impact and,I hope, will continue tomake a difference. Every phone call oremail from an agent isoffering another playerand fees are high again.Buys in the closingstages of the windoware often desperationbuys and clubsoverspend. Look atFernando Torres, AndyCarroll and DarrenBent; those deals aredriven by rich, foreignowners, whose wealthis not subjected to thesame UK tax demandswe are. Switch: Robbie Keane has joined West Ham on loanIt's all aboutodds and timing andluck. I remembersigning Roger Johnsonand Scott Dann forBirmingham and theycame out of theChampionship to forgean excellent PremierLeague centraldefensive partnership.It can happen. This is a crazy time ofyear for doing businessand only the needystep into the market.You can sense ArseneWenger and Sir AlexFerguson sitting backand watching it allunfold with a sense ofcalm, in the knowledgetheir squads are fullyprepared for themonths ahead. The rest of us have toget into the bear pitand fight for our lives.I was glad when 11pmarrived last night. Nowwe can get on with thefootball again. LIVE: Deadline day - follow all the twists and turns of a bust deadline day Club-by-club guide to every Premier League transfer deal during JanuaryDon't worry, West Ham fans! Avram insists his January rebuilding will see Hammers climbing the table Explore more:People: David Sullivan Places: United Kingdom

Source: Daily_Mail