Pardew: why I signed Deane

Hammers boss Alan Pardew has been explaining his reasons behind signing former Leicester man Brian Deane, who arrived at Upton Park on a free transfer today.

It was confirmed this morning that Pardew had made the 6'3" striker his third signing since taking over from Trevor Brooking a fortnight ago - thereby fulfilling a promise he made upon taking the post to sign a hat-trick of new faces.

Yesterday Pardew warned that he was about to make a couple of signings which may not be the kind traditionally associated with the Hammers - and the awkward Deane, the scourge of many different West Ham teams over the years would certainly fit that bill.

"Brian gives us an option that I feel we don't have in the squad," explained Pardew, talking to whufc.com this morning. "He got Leicester out of this division last season and is up to speed.

"He is a good character to have around the place, he is a winner and is fantastic value for us - so I am looking forward to seeing him in a West Ham shirt.

"He will give everything he has got, which is what I like about him. I just hope West Ham fans are going to enjoy seeing him out there when he plays."

Although Deane joins the Hammers on a free transfer, Pardew sees the big striker - as things stand - as a player to get the club back into the Premiership, and not necessarily one to lead the line if and when West Ham achieve promotion.

"It is a signing until the end of the season," he said. "You have to put it in perspective; Brian Deane is here to help us get promoted.

"Obviously you need skill and flair to win a fair percentage of games - but now and again you need to call on a bit of character, grit, and determination - and Brian has that in abundance."

With a group of four strikers now at his command Pardew now appears content that he has adequate firepower to take the Hammers back into the Premiership.

"It is important in this division with so many games to have options," he added. "Brian comes into that pool of strikers we have and I will select the two, or sometimes three, players that I think will get us the result.

"He was very keen to come and there is no transfer fee; Mickey Adams has done it as a reward for what he did for Leicester last year - and we have got somebody who is going to cause trouble for teams when we start to dominate."

Reaction to the signing from the fans will follow soon ...