Harry Redknapp has wished Glenn Roeder all the best as West Ham United's new manager stating that the fans at Upton Park must give him a chance to prove himself.
Redknapp's successor was named on Wednesday and officially unveiled as the new Hammers boss the next day after weeks of speculation surrounding the vacant post at Upton Park.
The club approached former Manchester United coach Steve McClaren and Charlton manager Alan Curbishley about the position but both men felt their future lay elsewhere and Redknapp, who was at the West Ham helm for seven years, admitted his surprise that nobody seemed to want the job.
Roeder is only the ninth manager in the club's history, an astonishing statistic for a Premiership club in the modern game, and his predecessor feels that the former coach, born and bred in the East End, should be given a fair chance to show his credentials.
"I'm pleased Glenn's got it because you couldn't meet a nicer fellow and I wish him every success," Redknapp said.
"Some fans may have wanted a bigger name than Glenn, but give him a chance. See what he can do first and then judge him.
"If he does well, gets the team playing good football and keeps producing kids like they have done in the last few years, it's not a problem who is in charge. Only time will tell for Glenn.
"It doesn't matter what he's done in the past as a player or a coach - he's now got to do it as a manager. It is a completely different job," he added.
"He's been a manager at Watford and Gillingham before. He lost his job at both places, but that doesn't mean to say he's going to lose his job at West Ham."
Roeder will have to cope without the services of one of West Ham's star players, Redknapp's nephew Frank Lampard Jnr after the young midfielder completed his £11 million move across London to Chelsea.
However, Redknapp believes there are plenty of good players left at Upton Park and there should be no need for a major change of personnel in the squad for it to be successful.
"Glenn doesn't need to make major changes to what's there already," he said.
"They've got some very good players. Young Carrick's a great player and if he can get Sinclair back fit again and Kanoute scoring goals, he's got the makings of a very good team."
The new manager will certainly be looking to improve on the team's performance of last season, which began disastrously with three straight defeats and saw them involved in a relegation battle, eventually finishing 15th in the table.
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