Somer-Stech

Former West Ham goalkeeper Marek Stech has signed a two-year contract with Yeovil Town.

The 22-year-old shot stopper was released by West Ham last week but like fellow youngster Freddie Sears, who signed a three-year contract at Colchester this week, Stech has wasted little time in finding himself a new club.

The 6'3" former youth international, who joined West Ham as a 16-year-old having been signed on the advice of Ludo Miklosko spent a month on loan at Huish Park between October and November of last year, making five appearances for the League One club.

Only last summer Stech still harboured high hopes of eventually becoming West Ham's number one.

Speaking in an interview with Czech website Pravo, recorded following West Ham's relegation from the Premier League, he said:"I am full of optimism. For me it's advantageous that we're not among the elite as I have a better chance.

"In the reserve games I've played well and pushed [Rob] Green in training. He had an operation and problems plagued him after the treatment of pain. It was almost my time, but I just didn't get a chance."

However his chances were to be limited even further during the campaign as the result of a contractual issue that is thought to have prevented him from being made available for selection.

It was rumoured that after five first team outings, Stech's former club Sparta would be due an additional payment of £750,000 - something that West Ham were not prepared to pay.