Boa's Staying Put.

West Ham's Portugese international playmaker Luis Boa-Morte has announced that he has no intention of walking out on the club, despite the best efforts of the boo boys to drive him away. Speaking to Desporto Boa explained: "I thought I should stay and fight for my place. I still intend to play three more years abroad. I have one more year at West Ham and then two more after that. Where I play those two years, assuming all goes well, we will see."

West Ham fans will be hugely relieved that goal machine and midfield maestro Boa-Morte is not about to trigger an exodus of international talent from Upton Park. Back in January, with Boa out of favour with the new management team, a move to Hull City seemed likely, but the Hammers ace declined to leave, preferring instead to show his commitment to the West Ham cause rather than jump ship along with fellow star Craig Bellamy.

Football pundit Lee Vitout explained that January was a dangerous time for the club. "Had we lost Luis on top of Bellamy, heaven only knows who might have followed," he said. "Players are only human. They see one top player leave and they feel anxious. If another goes, then often it has a domino effect. Boa's decision not to defect to Hull was possibly the biggest single factor in West Ham pushing for a place in Europe rather than battling against the drop."

And just as in January, so the dressing room has been unsettled by the loss this month of captain Lucas Neill. Vitout continued: "That is two top top players who have left West Ham since Christmas. If Luis were to go too, the message would be clear - West Ham cannot hold on to the very best players. There are rumours about Green and Upson but, hopefully, they will see the example being set by Luis and think, 'If the club is big enough for Boa then it's big enough for me'. Don't forget, the guy has over 20 caps for Portugal."

With rumours of top class South Americans joining West Ham this summer, it might have been expected that Boa would consider a move to ensure first team appearances and further his international prospects; but the playmaker clearly feels a deep seated love for the club. Vitout added, "Like all Boas, Luis is difficult to shake off. He will cling to the club for as long as he possibly can and certainly until that £56,000 per week contract has expired. If he then walks away on a free transfer, who could blame him?"