Dean Ashton admits West Ham United's new owners must be frustrated over his five-year contract.

Persistent ankle problems forced Ashton to retire last November, bringing a devastating end to a career which promised so much, with the former Crewe and Norwich man tipped to be an England regular when Steve McClaren began reshaping the squad after the 2006 World Cup.

Ashton revealed the compensation process for him and the club is still "going on" but accepts David Sullivan and David Gold, who revealed West Ham were in debt to the tune of £100million when they took charge, must have questioned the wisdom of awarding a long-term contract to someone who did not play a single minute in the 2006-07 season.

Ashton said: "In hindsight I'm sure they're ripping their hair out. At the time I felt I was not going to have any more problems and that I'd got back to somewhere near my best and obviously (the previous owners) felt that as well.

"At the time West Ham didn't want to lose a striker.

"At the time five years seemed a lot. I had got back and played really well and was in the team every week, and I felt like I deserved a new contract," he told BBC Radio Five Live.

"It wasn't up to me but I felt like I'd earned my place back in the team."