Grant keeps job and lands Bridge

Published Jan. 12, 2011 7:15 p.m. ET

foxsports

Bridge has dropped down the pecking order at Eastlands since the arrival of Aleksandar Kolarov and Jerome Boateng in the summer, and the 30-year-old is looking forward to a new challenge. "It will be great to play a part in helping keep West Ham in the Premier League," Bridge told the Hammers' official website. "It would be a big achievement." Bridge watched on from the stands at Upton Park on Tuesday night when Grant was forced to switch Matthew Upson to left-back in the 2-1 win over Birmingham in the first leg of their Carling Cup semi-final. It has been a problem position in a difficult season for the Irons, which has seen them struggle in the Premier League. They sit bottom of the table following a 5-0 drubbing by Newcastle last time out but Bridge had no doubt about making the move south. "I know a few of the players from England and I know the physio," he said. "I spoke to Scotty Parker and a few people and they told me what a great club it is. "That definitely helped me make the decision to come here. "There is a lot of quality here and I know we can move up the table. "The first half on Tuesday was great. "There should have been a few more goals and then the team came back with 10 men, "If we can play like that every week we'll be fine." The deal to sign Bridge was completed after a board meeting at Upton Park earlier on Wednesday ended with Grant still in place. Speculation had been rife that he was on the brink of the sack but the Israeli appears to have bought himself time to convince his employers that he is the man to keep the club in the Premier League. The future looked bleak for the former Chelsea and Portsmouth boss following last week's 5-0 thrashing at Newcastle - which left the Hammers rooted to the foot of the table - but an FA Cup win over Barnsley and Tuesday night's spirited Carling Cup victory over Birmingham earned him what looks to be a reprieve. Indeed, barring the result at St James' Park, Grant has overseen something of a revival at Upton Park in recent weeks, with that their only defeat in seven games in all competitions. They have also won four of the remaining six to ensure they are still within touching distance of climbing out of the drop zone.