Ashton targets contract talks with boss

11:27am Monday 12th May 2008

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DEAN Ashton has demanded showdown talks with manager Alan Curbishley in a bid to thrash out his West Ham future.

The Irons striker, who has scored five goals in the final eight games of the season, has been linked with a summer move to Manchester United or Newcastle United.

But Ashton, who drew praise from Sir Alex Ferguson after scoring at Old Trafford last weekend, insisted he would be happy to remain at Upton Park - as long as the Hammers wanted to keep him.

The forward is still on the contract he signed when he joined the club from Norwich City for £7.25million two-and-a-half years ago.

Since then, a host of big-money signings have arrived, many of whose wages dwarf those earned by Ashton, who wants to discuss his own contract situation with the club this summer.

"As far as I know I'll be here. I haven't heard anything myself and the only worry is that the club haven't spoken to me yet so I don't know where I stand with the club at the moment," he told the Echo.

"Obviously I'd like to speak to the club about my future.

"I'd just like to know where my future stands. I haven't really been told particularly where my future stands at the moment.

"Obviously I had to prove myself and I feel I've done that now."

Ashton denied he was looking for a move elsewhere, despite Ferguson's obvious admiration for his talents, and reiterated his desire to remain at the Boleyn Ground.

"West Ham is the team I play for. I've got two years (left) here and I want to talk to the club because I've really enjoyed myself here and that's all I'm really thinking about," he added.

"I suppose it (Ferguson's praise) is flattering but you don't really read a lot into what goes into the papers.

"The thing I'm more worried about is what West Ham think of me and whether they want to keep me.

"Obviously I want to speak to them because I'm happy here."

Ashton was delighted to end the season with his third goal in three games, an 88th minute rocket that ensured the Irons secured a 2-2 draw with Aston Villa and a 10th place Premier League finish.

"It was nice to finish the season like I have done after the season that I've had, which has been in-and-out really," he said.

"So to finish the season starting a few games and scoring a few goals, I'm really pleased.

"There's a few players who've been injured and not played as many games as they wanted to who have ended the season well.

"Although we'd have liked to have done a lot better, a couple of us are pleased with the way we've ended the season.

"If you put everything into consideration, the table doesn't look too bad.

"If we'd had everyone fit it would have been a different story but that's the way it goes and we did the best we could."