Speaking to West Ham’s official website, Neill says that a return of confidence helped the side move away from their relegation struggles.

"It has been a big team effort from the back room staff through to the players," he said.

"To go to Arsenal away and Old Trafford and win is a phenomenal effort. Seven wins out of 9 is the kind of form that puts you in the Champions League and not in the bottom four.

"For me the turning point was the Tottenham game, which is weird because that's when everyone had written us off. I actually thought that was when we showed we had a chance because of how we played.

Neill was publicly criticised when he signed for West Ham, after turning down an offer from the side he supported as a boy, Liverpool. When the Hammers looked set for relegation, the Sydney-raised defender endured one of the toughest periods of his career.

"Once you go out and believe you can win any game, there's no reason why you can't go out and beat anyone. We've proven that,” he said.

"It was like the fans, we lost them before the Tottenham game because they thought that was it, then we won them back and got them believing. They were the proverbial twelfth man."

Again, Neill was full of praise for West Ham’s Chairman Eggert Magnusson – who he has repeatedly said was the deciding factor in his move. Neill says that the side can now aim for a more fruitful 2007/08 season and can start challenging for a place in Europe.

"I came here, not so much for this season, but for next; to build and to buy into the Chairman's dream," said Lucas. "He's a very ambitious man and he's a big football man.

"He wants to do really well and this is as much for him and his gamble as it is for us. You'll see bigger and better things at West Ham now - and what we've got going for us is fans.”