Sunday 19 April 2015 10:40, UK
West Ham defender Winston Reid says he signed a new deal with the club because he feels the east London club is going places.
Reid was linked with a summer move to Tottenham and Arsenal but ended speculation about his future by signing a six-and-a-half year deal with the Hammers last month.
The New Zealander believes he can fulfil all of his ambitions at West Ham, who are set to move to the Olympic Stadium in 2016/2017.
"I think this club will eventually be a very big one, but it's going to take time and probably not over the next couple of years," he said.
"It is going to take a lot of hard work by everybody, but I wouldn't have signed a new contract if I didn't think we could achieve something to get into the top tier of English football.
"We just have to work hard at it and make sure the results get better."
I am not saying we are going to win the league, that's probably not realistic, but to win something and get into that upper tier would be an achievement
Reid added: "One of the reasons (I signed) was that I could see myself as an important part of the squad for the next six years of my career.
"My family are happy here; I have a good relationship with the people at the club and most importantly I wanted to give something back to a club that took a chance on me.
"I took all those factors into consideration and footballing-wise I really do believe we can achieve something.
"I am not saying we are going to win the league, that's probably not realistic, but to win something and get into that upper tier would be an achievement."
Reid will be at Upton Park next season but there is intense specultaion that manager Sam Allardyce may not be will be with his contract not yet renewed past the summer.
Reid, though, insists any uncertainty has not filtered through to the pitch.
"No, not really. We always give 100 per cent for the manager. We have a good bunch here who always work hard for the manager. A lot of them have been here a long time," he said.
