Allardyce: my 'difficult' transfer window

Sam Allardyce has admitted that his search for new players this summer has been a frustrating experience.

The West Ham boss, who takes his team for the first time in pre-season this evening when they visit non-league Boreham Wood told whufc.com that he had endured a 'difficult' time trying to make additions to the squad that won a return to the top flight via the play-off Final in May.

Having been linked with a whole host of potential signings since the beginning of June, Allardyce, who remained in the UK last week whilst the first team squad travelled to Austria, has managed to bag four players - not one of whom has commanded anything more than a nominal transfer fee.

Goalkeepers Stephen Henderson and Jussi Jaaskelainen, former loanee George McCartney and ex-Wigan midfielder Momo Diame have all joined the squad for next season, however Allardyce readily admits that his squad still requires further improvement.

"Right now, our main aim is to improve the quality of the squad and get some new faces in as quickly as possible," he said. "That has been the most difficult task of the summer."

Looking ahead to tonight's game, which was arranged as part of the deal that took young midfielder Pelly Ruddock from Boreham Wood to West Ham last winter, Allardyce believes that the match will be a good exercise for his players who only returned from their midsummer break ten days ago.

"As early as this is, it's good for the first-team squad to get in another 45 minutes," said Allardyce, who will be taking a full-strength squad to Meadow Park tonight. "It helps Boreham Wood and it helps our lads in their preparation. It's going to be a good day."

* Guy Demel, who travelled with the squad to Austria last week but didn't feature against Austria Wien on Saturday missed out as the result of a minor injury. "There was a small incident with Guy [who] got caught in the eye, but he should be back in a couple of days," revealed Allardyce.