Hammers get cash windfall

West Ham have received a £350,000 (€514,000) boost courtesy of Aston Villa central defender Liam Ridgewell.

Ridgewell moved from the Hammers to Villa Park as a 16-year-old in 2001 and a Football League tribunal ruled that the Midlands club had to pay an initial £50,000 (€73,500) plus a further £350,000 (€514,000) when he clocked up 50 appearances.

The England Under-21 player, who was initially a left-sided midfielder, reached that milestone on Saturday as part of the Villa side beaten 2-0 at home by Manchester United.

Ridgewell made his debut three years ago against Blackburn in the FA Cup but it is only in the past six months that he has become a first team regular after Marin Laursen’s long-term knee injury.

West Ham would also be entitled to 15% of any transfer fee should Ridgewell ever leave Villa, but the player signed a new three-year contract earlier this season.

Ridgewell was part of Villa’s FA Youth Cup winning side in 2002 and had a loan spell at Bournemouth before being eased into the first team picture.

He made the headlines earlier this season after conceding four penalties in the space of five matches.

At present Ridgewell is Villa’s only fit centre-back with skipper Olof Mellberg, Laursen and Gary Cahill all sidelined.

Ridgewell is determined to try and hold onto his place with Villa manager David O’Leary hoping to sign Chelsea’s Robert Huth on loan in January.

He said: “Ever since I have been here it seems that the club have been looking for centre-halves. I’ve just got to take that in my stride.

“In the summer Wilfred Bouma, who can play there as well as at left-back, was brought in so there is a bit of pressure but I’ll take it in my stride.”