Keen reaffirms Hammers desire

Published May. 22, 2011 9:15 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Hammers had already been relegated from the Premier League before kick-off but put in a poor display on the final day as goals from Bolo Zenden, Stephane Sessegnon and Cristian Riveros saw the Black Cats home comfortably. Keen is still hoping he will be given the full-time reins at Upton Park because he feels the club are 'in his blood'. "Yes I'd love the job," he said. "My audition for the job started as soon as I got it and I think this week I've conducted myself quite well. "I love the club, I played for the club for nine years, I've come back and I've coached the club for nine years. It's in my blood. "I feel I can really take the club on and contribute. I feel it is time for me to go on and become a manager. "If you asked the players about respect and who they'd want to take the job I think you'd get a big affirmative from the majority. "It's a tough profession but I've been in it a long time and I feel I've got the attributes to take the club forward. "I spoke to (owner, David) Mr Gold before the game, he said good luck and that he was pulling for me. That was about it. I've no doubt we'll speak this week." On the final Premier League performance of the campaign, Keen feels the end result slightly flattered Sunderland. He added: "I thought the players put a lot of effort in, it typified the season a little bit in that I thought we created chances in the first half and then Mr Zenden goes down the other end and put one in off his shoulder. Once it had got to 2-0 it was tough. "I think the players kept going even at 2-0. Unfortunately after the season we've had it's difficult mentally. "I thought Sunderland were a little bit better than us today, perhaps not 3-0 but certainly a little bit better."