Reo-Coker: Fresh start for me

New Aston Villa playmaker Nigel Reo-Coker has slammed former club West Ham United and talked of his excitement to have joined the Midlands club.

Reo-Coker, 23, said: "This is a fresh start for me, a new beginning and I do not want to dwell on the past,"

"I'm the sort of person who looks forward rather than backwards and I could spend hours talking about what went on at West Ham.

"A lot of things went on at West Ham, a lot of things. It was an experience which has hardened me but I don't think it was an experience anyone should be forced to go through, like I was, at the age of 22.

"But it has made me a stronger character and I will now channel that in the right way.

"People ask me if I felt out was hung out to dry at West Ham and I believe I was, I believe I was made the scapegoat.

"If people want to see me as obnoxious or bitter about what went on then that's their prerogative.

"But my honest opinion was that I was hung out to dry."

He added: "I have got good memories and bad memories of my time there but that would be the same for any player at any club,"

"I never got a chance to say my farewells to the people at West Ham so I will need to take time to do that because there are a lot of good people down there who supported me through the good and the bad times and genuine people are hard to find in life.

"Will I shake the hand of Alan Curbishley? I will if I see him.

"I do not know how West Ham fans will treat me when I go back to play there but whatever anybody says about me I know I have always given 110% for whichever club I've played for."