West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic has thanked former manager Sam Allardyce for leaving a strong squad behind at Upton Park.

Allardyce left his role in east London at the end of the season after spending four years with the Hammers and Bilic was grateful to inherit an already capable squad.

"I would like to thank Sam," Bilic said. "He left me a really good team and good atmosphere and he didn't leave me a mess. It is solid and it is a great base for me to try and improve."

"In the last four years under Sam we have a strong base, the chairman and the gaffer are together and the club feels like a proper club now - not a circus act," he added.