Mullins remains optimistic

Hammers midfielder looks on the bright side

By Chris Burton   Last updated: 7th January 2009

Mullins remains optimistic

Mullins: Praise for Zola

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Hayden Mullins insists 'everything is looking upwards' at West Ham despite the club's much-publicised problems.

The global credit crunch has hit the Hammers hard, with the team's owners financially crippled by the recession.

That has hindered any hopes Gianfranco Zola held of adding to his squad during the January transfer window.

It has also put the future of many of the club's top stars in doubt, with speculation continuing to link a host of players with moves away from Upton Park.

However, even with matters off the pitch casting a sizeable shadow, Mullins insists it is not all doom and gloom in the East End.

Brilliant

"The manager has come in and freshened a lot of things up, training is brilliant," said Mullins, who was handed the captain's armband for the 3-0 FA Cup win over Barnsley on Saturday.

"We have got a new shape we are working on, and a lot of it is coming off.

"In the last couple of weeks people have seen the Portsmouth result (4-1 win) and the Stoke result (2-1 win) and then the win over Barnsley. It is something we are building on."

Mullins added on the club's official website: "It was not quite going for us a couple of weeks ago. But now it is turning round, and everything is looking upwards.

"We are going higher up in the league and are trying to win as many games as we can - and that is a tribute to the manager."