Alan Curbishley celebrates a year in charge and his transformation in the eyes of the supporters.

The West Ham boss took charge at Upton Park in December 2006 with the club seemingly doomed to relegation to the Championship.

Dubbed a 'clown' and a 'donkey' by the club's own fans, Curbishley managed to achieve the seemingly impossible when he guided the club to seven wins in their last nine games to retain their Premier League status.

Now 12 months on, he is able to look back on his achievements with pride.

"It's been an interesting year to say the least," Curbishley said.

"After my first five games with West Ham, I was a donkey and a clown, but I took it with a pinch of salt because the experience I had of 15 years at Charlton held me in good stead.

"I'd never want to go through what we did again, and the way we did it, but the experience got me through it.

"I don't know if I've aged well because of it, that's for sure.

"But coming into West Ham, I did say a year ago there was a short-term brief to try and stay up, and a long-term brief to build the club, and that's what I'm trying to do.

"So I have to say I'm satisfied with my first year because going into a club with 14 points from 17 games, you are in a relegation battle.

"Whoever has 14 points from 17 games is in trouble, and you have to get out of it. We did get out of it.

"I was then hoping to build in the summer and make the club a lot stronger and that's what I'm still trying to do."

Curbishley also told how he is now considered a hero at Upton Park, and that he has no intention of putting himself forward for the England post.

"When I joined West Ham I never sought any clauses," he explained.

"I had them in my contract at Charlton, but I've none here at West Ham.

"It's the only club I want to be at, it's the first year and I'm hoping to push on.

"That's why I said a couple of months ago that this is my club and I want to do well here. I've no thoughts of anything else."