Peter Beagrie says that West Ham's powerful spine will help them compete in the Premier League.
'Hammers' senior pros can lay the foundations for further success'
Peter Beagrie believes that West Ham's togetherness will ensure that they are competitive in next year's Premier League.
The Hammers beat Blackpool 2-1 in the Championship play-of final on Saturday afternoon to book a return to the top flight after a one-year absence.
Sky Sports pundit Beagrie says the Londoners will have to bolster their squad over the summer, but feels Irons chief Sam Allardyce already has a solid base of players at his disposal.
"There are in such a healthy state," he said of the Upton Park side, who were relegated from the elite division last May.
"You are only as good as your senior pros and there are no egos there and it means so much to the youngsters there, too.
"Sam has been backed with finances this year, but the Premier League is very unforgiving and they will need to spend to make sure they don't find themselves back in the Championship.
"Their traditional way of playing football will attract players, though, so I don't think there will be any shortage of people coming through the revolving door once the transfer window opens."
Faith
The Hammers missed out on automatic promotion this term by just two points and Beagrie praised the way Allardyce has galvanised his troops during the play-off campaign.
And the former Scunthorpe winger also thinks the January acquisition of Ricardo Vaz Te, who scored the club's winner against Blackpool, has given the Irons a new dimension.
"Sam had tremendous faith in his own ability to build a team," added Beagrie. "They missed out on automatic promotion but he re-energised them, they were united and their big characters performed well.
"Kevin Nolan has justified his wage, Carlton Cole has been brilliant up front with his thirst for work and the signing of Ricardo Vaz Te was imperative for them because they were very predictable. He has been off the cuff and found his goal-scoring form at the right time."
Ex-West Ham manager Alan Pardew watched the game with Beagrie in the
Sky Sports studio and he says the Londoners' elevation is just reward for the hard work put in by the Hammers' hierarchy.
"The owners are West Ham fans and they took the club when it was on its knees and have had to do all sorts of deals to keep it going and give themselves a chance," said the Newcastle boss.
"David Gold, David Sullivan and Karren Brady deserve a lot of credit for taking that club back to where they belong. The club is bathed in tradition and their fans are some of the best in the country. I am absolutely chuffed that they are back."
Future
Ian Holloway's Blackpool missed out on immediate promotion back to the Premier League after being unable to replicate their play-off final success against Cardiff in 2010.
But both Beagrie and one-time Tangerines defender Clarke Carlisle reckon that the Bloomfield Road outfit can look back on the campaign in a positive light.
Beagrie said: "The way they got to the Premier League a couple of seasons ago was a fairy-tale and it has afforded them the opportunity to be rubbing shoulders with the likes of West Ham. The parachute payments have secured their future for a long time yet and that's the most important thing."
Carlisle added: "It is so hard to dust yourselves down and go again after relegation. To get your squad focussed and used to that jolt in lifestyle and the grounds that you're going to is difficult. But they went on a run of form and gave themselves this opportunity [to get promoted]. Ian Holloway should be exceptionally proud."
