The rock-bottom Hammers were beaten 3-0 by Sunderland in their final game of a miserable season, and one that appeared to scupper any faint hope caretaker boss Keen might have had of succeeding Avram Grant.

But the former West Ham winger, whose previous spell in temporary charge also yielded a defeat, said: "Some people say I'm too nice to manage. Always a nice boy, played football in a nice way."

Asked if he could be nasty as well, he added: "Yes, I can. Spread the word.

"I think my audition for the job started as soon as I got it.

"I have conducted myself well since then and I hope they take that into account. I love the club. I played for them for nine years. It's in my blood.

"I feel I can really take the club on and contribute. If you ask the players if they want me to take the job, I think you'd get an affirmative answer from the majority of the players."

Keen was realistic about his chances, saying: "If I'm up against Martin O'Neill, Steve McClaren, Sam Allardyce, Neil Warnock, then it's going to be a tough ask.

"Because those boys have got a lot of experience, they've got a better record than my losses of two and wins of nil in the Premier League.

"So, it's up to the owners.

"I'm sure whichever way they go, they'll make the right decision."

Keen insisted that whoever was in charge needed to undo the damage he felt was done at the club under Grant and Gianfranco Zola.

"Do you not think that over the last couple of years, we've had Avram Grant and Gianfranco Zola and perhaps we've gone away from the traditions and the way we have played?" he said.

"Those traditions have been lost over the last four or five years and we need to regain them."

But he was under no illusions over the task facing the Hammers, who will lose several of their star players before starting the npower Championship season.

"It will be a tough, tough season in the Championship," he said.

"There are more teams in it who want to play football, it's more physical than the Premier League - but not as much as it used to be - and there are more games.

"We have fantastic young players here and if we can keep hold of them, we have a fantastic base to build from and we can play the kind of football our fans believe in."

Keen defended West Ham's performance amid a funereal atmosphere at Upton Park today, one which was only lifted when more than one group of fans began an ironic conga.

"The supporters were absolutely amazing," he said.

"I thought the players put a lot of effort in, typified the season.

"Once it went 2-0, it was a tough afternoon.

"The players kept going.

"Unfortunately, after the season we've had, it's difficult mentally."

In stark contrast to West Ham, Sunderland ended the season on a real high, putting a miserable three months behind them to snatch a top-10 spot.

Perhaps more importantly, they finished above north-east rivals Newcastle, who blew a 3-0 lead to draw with West Brom.

Manager Steve Bruce said: "I'm delighted. We set out to be in the top 10 and had a pretty woeful three months.

"I kept trying to tell everybody why but the north east doesn't listen very well.

"We are the top team in the north east. We have been for the last few years. We have to make sure we keep doing that now."

Bruce, who sold star striker Darren Bent to Aston Villa in January, added: "The Bent situation did affect us, if we're being honest.

"We lost our best player and top scorer. We have to make sure we get a new one."

Bruce knows all about relegation, having suffered it with Birmingham while West Ham's current owners David Gold and David Sullivan were at the helm.

His advice to his former bosses was: "It is a difficult balancing act.

"You have to have a manager who has been there and done it.

"And you have to get rid of the players that will not stay.

"But you have to be careful that you don't strip it - that you have enough to get that balance right."