Robert Green is determined to avoid the second relegation of his career for personal pride and to avoid becoming forgotten in the Coca-Cola Championship.
The 27-year-old went down with Norwich on the final day of the season two years ago and looks in severe danger of a repeat with West Ham currently bottom of the table and 10 points behind 17th-placed Manchester City.
Green started his career in the Championship and is aware how gruelling a promotion campaign is, but also how the spotlight is focused on the top flight.
"There is nowhere else to be but the Premiership," he said. "Rightly so, it's about who will get the most coverage, who gets the most fans on the TV and the crowds."
The Hammers have had more coverage than most this season with a takeover of the club completed, reports of player unrest and a gambling culture in the dressing room and Alan Curbishley replacing Alan Pardew in charge.
They also submitted their appeal today against a Premier League charge concerning the eligibility of Argentina duo Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano.
But Green believes their profile would alter dramatically if they are playing in the Championship.
"In the newspaper the Championship gets six lines on Monday morning, maybe a page - West Ham itself has covered more pages this season than the Championship itself," he added.
"The Championship is a tough league and you underestimate it at your peril. It can be fun when you're winning but you want to be in the Premiership."
Green hopes West Ham will put themselves in a similar position to Norwich in 2005 when they went into the final game of the campaign with a chance of escaping the drop.
The Hammers have a daunting run-in, though, with Arsenal and Chelsea among their opponents before facing Manchester United at Old Trafford on the final day of the season.
Green insists West Ham can defy the odds, starting with Saturday's clash at Blackburn.
He also maintains that relegation still causes pain for players despite the handsome salaries they receive.
"I know we can do it, we've got nine games left and believe we can win every one of them," he added.
"It's painful to get relegated. You pride yourself on your performances and with Norwich it was disappointing - you're that much more determined not to let it happen again.
"You can have all the money in the world but you can't change things like that. I'd rather have no money and be top of the Premiership than lots of money and at the bottom."
Green started his career in the Championship and is aware how gruelling a promotion campaign is, but also how the spotlight is focused on the top flight.
"There is nowhere else to be but the Premiership," he said. "Rightly so, it's about who will get the most coverage, who gets the most fans on the TV and the crowds."
The Hammers have had more coverage than most this season with a takeover of the club completed, reports of player unrest and a gambling culture in the dressing room and Alan Curbishley replacing Alan Pardew in charge.
They also submitted their appeal today against a Premier League charge concerning the eligibility of Argentina duo Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano.
But Green believes their profile would alter dramatically if they are playing in the Championship.
"In the newspaper the Championship gets six lines on Monday morning, maybe a page - West Ham itself has covered more pages this season than the Championship itself," he added.
"The Championship is a tough league and you underestimate it at your peril. It can be fun when you're winning but you want to be in the Premiership."
Green hopes West Ham will put themselves in a similar position to Norwich in 2005 when they went into the final game of the campaign with a chance of escaping the drop.
The Hammers have a daunting run-in, though, with Arsenal and Chelsea among their opponents before facing Manchester United at Old Trafford on the final day of the season.
Green insists West Ham can defy the odds, starting with Saturday's clash at Blackburn.
He also maintains that relegation still causes pain for players despite the handsome salaries they receive.
"I know we can do it, we've got nine games left and believe we can win every one of them," he added.
"It's painful to get relegated. You pride yourself on your performances and with Norwich it was disappointing - you're that much more determined not to let it happen again.
"You can have all the money in the world but you can't change things like that. I'd rather have no money and be top of the Premiership than lots of money and at the bottom."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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