West Ham United co-owner David Sullivan has penned an open letter to fans about his controversial pay-cut comments last week.

Sullivan insists it was all a ploy to united the squad and get the three points against Birmingham City.

He wrote for whufc.com: "Although not popular with many, my words were the last resort. It was necessary to do whatever we could to give us that something extra that we didn't have against Burnley, Blackburn or Portsmouth in the previous matches.

"Don't get me wrong, the team and manager deserve plenty of credit for what they produced on Wednesday but as they acknowledged afterwards that is what they are there to do. Our aim has to be to win matches and make sure you see 100 per cent commitment out there on the pitch.

"Although I have taken stick for it and that isn't pleasant - by attacking the team you get them angry and they bond with the manager against the board/me - it is clear now that everyone is together and well aware of what we face ahead.

"Let's be straight. This club must remain in the Premier League. We have kept the squad together and brought in new players as we promised but we cannot rest easy and think that is it, job done. We all - and I include you the fans in this - have to do everything we can to ensure we stay up.

"I've galvanised a team with similar tactics three or four times in the last 17 years. The managers always hate it - and I understand that - but it has never failed to work. All that said, I won't be doing it again for a while as it is something you can only do every now and then."