Breen becomes a Hammer

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND World Cup star Gary Breen has joined West Ham United on a Bosman ruling after the experienced central defender failed to agree an extension of his contract with First Division Coventry City at the end of last season.

Breen admitted that the chance to link up with Hammers boss Glenn Roeder was one of the main reasons to join the London Premiership club.

The defender, who played briefly with Roeder when he was a 19-year-old at Gillingham, said: “The main factor was certainly Glenn. I have worked with him before and hope to learn even more now that I have signed. I had a lot of fantastic offers from abroad, but I thought it best to stay in the Premiership.