Neill chose Hammers over Pool

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Lucas Neill has spurned interest from Liverpool and agreed a two-and-a-half year deal with Premiership strugglers West Ham.

Liverpool was widely thought to have been the wantaway Blackburn defender's destination, but on Wednesday night he agreed terms on a lucrative contract with The Hammers.

Alan Curbishley is desperate to strengthen his team for their fight against relegation and has offered attractive terms to Neill, though The Hammers are reported still to be negotiating with Rovers.

"Lucas has agreed terms on a two-and-a-half year deal with West Ham and is looking forward to the challenge ahead," Neill's agent Peter Harrison is quoted in The Times.

Neill's decision to choose The Hammers over Liverpool will exasperate Reds boss Rafa Benitez who hinted for the first time on Wednesday that a deal for Neill had hit a stumbling block.

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unbelievable…wad if westham got relegated this season??

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west ham reportedly offered a higher wage package

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but if they get relegated, wages will be slashed

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RAFA ANGER AT 'LUCASH'

LIVERPOOL boss Rafa Benitez blasted Lucas Neill after he turned down Champions League football at Anfield to double his money at relegation-haunted West Ham.

The Blackburn defender headed for a medical in London after Alan Curbishley offered him a £60,000- a-week deal. Benitez was stunned by the decision after Liverpool offered £25,000 a week, although the deal would have been reviewed once he was established.

Neill indicated he was keen on a "dream" switch to Liverpool, and insisted then that he would ignore overtures from the likes of Tottenham and Newcastle.

Benitez, who will now approach Valencia to take Roberto Ayala on loan, said: "If he thinks about the move too long, then maybe that tells us that he is not the sort of player we want."

However, Neill, 28, could be left high and dry by his decision. Blackburn had agreed to swap Neill with Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock. With Liverpool almost certain to withdraw their offer of Warnock, it leaves Neill sweating on his future.

West Ham's spending was set to continue last night with Spurs defender Calum Davenport poised to move in a £3m deal.

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No, contracts can't be change unless the player agrees to it. Mr. Green

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but if the club is in debts then it might force its players to sign a new contract with lower wages….

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Unless the player wants to stay with the club and willing to accept a pay cut... if not he can request the club to sell him away at a lesser price so that he can continue to be paid his agreed sum or he can sit and wait for his contract to run out.

But of course the club cannot afford to let him sit out so they will probably have to sell him at a much lesser price. But clubs usually would have to sell their players with high salaries cos very few players would accept a pay cut.

Like Leeds for example, they are still paying part of the salaries of their ex-players cos they wouldn't take a pay cut... The sold Harry Kewell cheaply at $5m only when Duff when for 17m... These two valued were about the same at that time, maybe $12m. But Leeds needed to cut their monthly salary payout so had to agree to sell and also to make up the difference to the player's new salary to that of his drawing at Leeds until the end of his contract with them.

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Neill spurns Liverpool to join Hammers

Lucas Neill has agreed to join West Ham, spurning Liverpool because they could not guarantee first team football.

The Australia international has confirmed he will move from Blackburn in an interview with Sydney's Sunday Telegraph.

The report claims the transfer is worth £1.5million while Neill will earn £60,000 a week with the Hammers, twice the salary on offer at Liverpool.

Neill said: 'It wasn't about cash - that didn't come into it. It was about being wanted. West Ham were knocking down the door to get me whereas Liverpool made a take or leave it offer and didn't even come in for me until 15 days after the transfer window opened.

'People who have raised their eyebrows at me for making this decision are in for a surprise because West ham have a shopping list of players which almost blew me away.

'People have said I put money before medals and how could I make a sideways move like this and not go to a club like Liverpool, who are always in the hunt for trophies and so much prestige.

'It was an extremely hard decision but I know it's the right one. West Ham moved heaven and earth to sign me while Liverpool gave me the impression that I might not even get a game if I went there.

'I supported them as a kid and I know people are going to give me stick for not choosing them.'

Neill was persuaded to join West Ham by chairman Eggert Magnusson.

He added: 'It took me all of two minutes to be convinced I wasn't making a mistake when Mr Magnusson told me about his plans for the club.

'What he said almost knocked me off me feet.

'He told me I'm the first of many (new signings) earmarked for the club.

'I can be part of something big here. West Ham are very well supported. They just happen to be at the wrong end of the table at the moment but I hope to play my part in helping remedy that.

'They were two minutes away from winning the FA Cup final last season and have not suddenly become a bad team.'

Neill claims he has a get-out clause built into his deal should the Hammers be relegated and admits: 'It's a calculated gamble. It won't be a glamorous three months but once we secure safety people won't question my motives any more.

'I believe I will have the last laugh. People will soon be talking about West Ham in a very different way.'