The pair fell out in January 2004 when Parker left Charlton, who Curbishley had guided to fourth in the Premiership, and completed a £10million move to Chelsea.

Curbishley questioned Parker's conduct and declared the whole business had "left a bad taste in the mouth".

But they soon patched up their differences and Parker wasted little time in agreeing to a reunion when Curbishley offered him the chance of a move to Upton Park.

Parker is excited by West Ham's potential and believes Curbishley can help him rediscover his best form and lay claim to an England place.

"If you go around holding grudges in football, then you don't get anywhere," said Parker.

"These things happen and when I look back it showed how much the manager thought of me as a player.

"I have known Curbs since day one in my football career and there's no doubting that under Curbs I played the best football of my career.

"I was at Charlton when I was nine. He brought me up and I suppose the player I am today in some ways has to reflect on Alan.

"He disciplined me and taught me all the stuff as a young boy. I'm looking forward to playing under him again.

"When I heard Newcastle were willing to sell me I had to weigh up my options. After speaking to Alan and the chairman I knew this is a club that really want to go places and I want to be a part of that.

"I have come in at the beginning of something and I am hoping that by the end of it we are a real force. If we can bring in some more signings we can really push on."

Curbishley made the first conciliatory move after Parker completed his switch to Stamford Bridge, sending him a letter of gratitude for his efforts during seven years at Charlton.

"I was disappointed. We were fourth in the league and probably had the best team Charlton have had. It was bad timing for everybody," Curbishley recalled.

"I sent Scott a letter straight after the transfer expressing how much I appreciated what he did for me and the club. There's never been a problem since.

"When he scored against Charlton at The Valley I thought he was going to give me the finger or something, but he didn't!"

Parker has signed a five-year deal at Upton Park and brings with him experience and leadership qualities that were missing in the West Ham midfield for much of last season.

With Nigel Reo-Coker having handed in a transfer request, Parker is in the running with Lucas Neill to be West Ham's captain next season.

"Scott brings so many qualities. One is leadership. He was captain at Newcastle and when he played for me at Charlton even as a young boy he was captain," said Curbishley.

"One of the problems last year was that we went into a bad run that we couldn't get out of. Scott has been through the bad times and come out the other side. That's the sort of person I need at the club."

Chairman Eggert Magnusson presented Parker on the same day West Ham unveiled a club record sponsorship deal, thought to be worth £7.5million over three years, with holiday company XL.com.

"The signing of Scott Parker symbolises the club's ambitions going forward. I am delighted we have signed Scott because he is a great player and a great man. We need grown-up men at this club to move to the next level," Magnusson said "This is the biggest sponsorship in West Ham's history. The deal says a lot about the financial muscle of West Ham.

"Slowly but surely we are now moving towards becoming one of the top six clubs in the country."

Magnusson would like to add three more "quality players" to the squad while keeping hold of Carlos Tevez, but admitted West Ham's new-found wealth has made transfer negotiations difficult.

"At the moment we are finding that clubs are inflating their prices because everybody thinks we have a lot of money," he said.

For Curbishley, the return of Dean Ashton to full fitness will be the equivalent of another big-money signing.

Ashton missed all of last season with a fractured ankle but is back in pre-season training already and plans to be fitter than ever by August.

Curbishley said: "We want players that can push us forward and improve us. We've got one in Scott and hopefully we've got one coming back in Dean Ashton.

"Both Scott and Dean should be focused on forcing their way back into the England squad because they have both had a taste of it and need to get back in there."

Curbishley revealed that midfielder Yossi Benayoun will sign his new five-year contract tomorrow, despite reports suggesting he was angling for a move elsewhere.

"Yossi phoned up yesterday to reiterate that he is coming here tomorrow to sign it," said Curbishley.

"He is a terrific player and one who wants to be here. It is not a bad commitment, five years. It is the same as Scotty and we are delighted."