The 30-year-old admits there is "interest from elsewhere" but he insists he is proud to be captain of Hammers and intends to remain so.

A pre-season move to Manchester City where he would have been reunited with his former Blackburn boss Mark Hughes appeared to be a possibility after suggestions that Hammers manager Alan Curbishley was under instruction to cut the club's wage bill.

Neill led Australia to a 2-2 draw with South Africa in a friendly international at Loftus Road ground on Tuesday and he revealed he is in talks over his status at Upton Park.

He said: "Officially I'm in the last year of contract. I've had preliminary talks and there has been interest from elsewhere.

"But I'm captain of West Ham and very proud of that. And I don't see it being any different this season."

The former Millwall defender stunned the Premier League when he chose to sign for struggling West Ham for £1.5million rather than Liverpool in January 2007 when his Blackburn contract was running out and he had to endure accusations of putting money before ambition.

Meanwhile, Hammers centre back James Collins is delighted to have made his comeback in a reserve game after seven months out following a knee ligament injury, but he believes it will be two more months before he is fully fit.

The Wales international said: "When I first had the injury the surgeon said I could be out for a year or even eight months so to be playing again after seven months is great credit to the medical staff and the man who did my operation.

"I know there has been speculation about my future and it might be another couple of months before I'm fully fit again but I still feel I have a big part to play in West Ham's future.

"I'm just going to get my head down and concentrate on getting back into the first-team as soon as possible."

Curbishley could be looking at his central defensive options soon with Sunderland reportedly making a £6million bid for Anton Ferdinand.