Quashie ends silence over West Ham frustration

Nigel Quashie has broken his silence on his situation at West Ham United.

Quashie, 31, scored a late winner while on loan for Paul Ince’s MK Dons and is just pleased to be playing competitive football again.

Bosses at the debt-ridden club had told Quashie to stay away from the training ground while picking up his pay packet as he was not part of Gianfranco Zola’s first-team plans.

He told the Mirror: “I was told to sit at home and pick up my wages which is something I have never done before. I was thinking of getting a PlayStation 3 and having a go at Pro Evo because that was the closest I was getting to football.

“I was supportive to the manager. I said ‘if you ever need me for anything I’m here to help you. I’m here to help the younger kids’, which I did with Alex Dyer and the reserves.

“There is nothing that West Ham can say that I have done wrong. The only reason I was told was that ‘I have been a great professional; I have done everything that was asked of me’, like playing in the reserve games.

“That is what I was told by Gianluca Nani, Scott Duxbury and the manager. The outcome was to sit at home and enjoy Gillette Soccer Saturday.”

He added: “It’s just nice for me to get back playing and to be part of a group that want to do well and help me get fit. I’m not getting any younger as it is but I’m feeling stronger and enjoying my football.”