Avram Grant believes he has in place a successful long term plan for glory and has hailed his appointment as a new beginning for West Ham, writes Matt Diner

Avram Grant believes he has in place a successful long term plan for glory and has hailed his appointment as a 'new beginning' for West Ham, writes Matt Diner.

The Israeli boss has only been at the helm for a couple of weeks, but is already impressed by his new surroundings and is confident he can bring success to east London.

"We have a vision about the club, we have targets at our club and I can tell you that those targets are not only for this season, they are for the next season. I can sum it up in one word, progressing," he said.

"The targets are very clear, the target is to improve on the position of last year and to progress.

"I cannot say now the target is to be in Europe or the Champions League because it's something you reach if you do certain things.

"I think we can progress in one season. I think we can build a platform so that we can progress every season.

"What happened in the past, happened in the past. I am looking at West Ham only for a new beginning."

And the size of the task as well as a new challenge in east London is something that interested the former Chelsea boss greatly.

"It is a big challenge, but it is a good challenge. It is a club that want to progress and we have a plan how to progress the club," he said.

"It is a different challenge to my last two teams here.

"I like it that we have not only the targets for one season, but for more than one season and I think we will do it."

And what better way then to look to the youngsters at the club, a method which has worked wonders for the Hammers over the years.

"We want to progress, we want our academy, which is a good academy, to progress.

"I don't know if you know that we are moving to a new facility which is good for the club."

Those youngsters are taught to play the ball on the ground and Grant is keen for this to continue at all levels at West Ham.

"The tradition is to play good technical football, this makes me happy, I told you when I was at other clubs there is more than one way to win games," he said.

"You can play negative football, play good football and win games.

"I think what you saw from Spain it can teach everybody, but you need players to play like this."

Grant acknowledges that players will have to be brought in to achieve this and knows the importance of getting the right blend between experience and youth.

"Also we want players who will be experienced in the Premier League, you will see experienced players and young talented footballers before they become good players, it's not easy," he said.

"We also need some good, experienced players and Thomas (Hitzlsperger) is one of them.

"He is a good player, a very good professional. He is positive about everything he is doing and he knows how to defend, he knows how to attack.

"The players in this club, they are good players, but we are looking to make the squad stronger.

"I think it is a good squad, but every squad needs to refresh and bring in players that can make you better. I want to look forward.

"The club has something to prove and we will see how they will be.