WEST Ham legend Alvin Martin has sung the praises of our new book, WEST HAM UNITED: THE MANAGERS.
The book, by EX magazine editor Tony McDonald, provides a compelling insight into the 11 full-time managers who have guided the club's fortunes since 1900 to the present day.

And there is no-one better qualified to comment on the depth or quality of the book's content than Martin, whose 595 first team appearances between 1978 and 1996 came under FOUR different managers. He was also coached by a fifth - Ron Greenwood - when he first joined Hammers as an apprentice in 1974.

Martin has been full of praise for the 400-page hardback, which he has been keen to promote while appearing in his current role as a respected radio pundit for talkSPORT.

"In all the years I've been associated with West Ham, this is the only book I've picked up that has given me a genuine insight into what really happened during my 21 years at the club. Some of what I read came as a surprise to me.

"The book covers many issues that were clouded in mystery when I was there, so to read the comments and views of my fellow professionals ­- fascinating and revealing quotes from the horse's mouth, if you like ­- was something that I found very enlightening. A lot of the time players don't divulge that sort of thing ­- the modern footballer usually responds to probing questions with a straight bat ­- but it was nice to read how other people viewed so many different aspects of each of the managers and how they went about their job.

"This book covers everything that happened at West Ham in a factual, knowledgeable and revealing way.

"I gave a copy to my dad and he loved it. Like me, he couldn't put it down," Alvin added.