October 23 2003

Hayden Mullins

Hayden Mullins has thanked Crystal Palace for the way the club treated him and is now looking forward to a fresh challenge at West Ham.

The 24-year-old has joined the Hammers on a month's loan, with a view to a permanent £600,000 switch, and played in their 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night.

He said: "The situation is that I have been at Crystal Palace for seven years and they have been very good to me; the best way to learn is to play in the first team.

"Thankfully I played a lot of games for them at a young age but it was just that I felt that I needed to move on and find a new challenge.

"First division football is getting better every year and I would thank Palace for the way they have treated me but it was time to move on.

"That is what I have come here for, to better myself; this is a big club and it is all geared for the Premiership, so hopefully they can better me and we can all get there.

"I had a Premiership club that offered me a contract at the end of the season but having spoken to West Ham I had a decision to make - and the decision was to come here.

"I want to help West Ham get into the Premiership and hopefully it is the right one."