Rio Ferdinand has backed David Moyes to keep West Ham up and then stabilise them in the Premier League if the club gets its recruitment right.
West Ham’s latest accounts show they have spent £214.4million net on new players in the past four years and invested £22m in the infrastructure, including refurbishment of their training grounds at Rush Green and Chadwell Heath, while almost £2m has been invested in the women’s team.
The financial figures also showed the backing the board gave to former manager Manuel Pellegrini.
Despite giving Pellegrini more than £130m to spend on transfers, the Chilean was sacked in December with West Ham left facing a relegation battle.
Moyes has endured a difficult start since taking over and the Hammers could drop into the bottom three if they lose by four goals against Liverpool on Wednesday.
But Ferdinand has backed Moyes to guide his old club to safety – and then feels West Ham can build something under the Scot.
Ferdinand said: “Progression is what the club are looking for, progression and stabilisation in this league and then move on from next season. At the end of the day big money has been spent here at West Ham. Huge money has been spent and the investment is there. It’s about getting it right, the right recruitment, the right players to come in and blend with the players they’ve got.
“I’ve spoken to Nobes who’s obviously a friend of mine at West Ham and immediately he’s said they can feel the structure a lot more at this club and the players are enjoying it. You just need someone you can relate to and who you can believe in and trust and you want to play for and David Moyes at this moment seems to be that right man.
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“There’s huge scope to climb the table. A couple of wins and you jump four or five or six places so that’s all you have to think about. That’s the motivation, that’s the incentive for these players: to get a little bit of momentum in this team and you’re in a different position in the league, so it’s all to play for.”
Ferdinand added: “West Ham has grown and it’s great to see the club, the stadium and the facilities are much better than when I was playing here but the fundamentals are the same.
"The fans are the lifeblood, with the support and history that has gone before us and hopefully that is respected and still bleeds through the club’s veins because the fans and what’s gone on before here are huge parts of this club which make it special.”
