Gabbidon would welcome Keane influence
Danny Gabbidon would gladly put up with the "hairdryer treatment" in the Upton Park changing room if it meant Roy Keane signed for West Ham.
Keane will be available on a free transfer in January following his shock departure from Manchester United and West Ham are ready to discuss terms should he decide on a move to London.
Keane is renowned for his short fuse but also his desire for perfection and Gabbidon would relish the opportunity to play alongside the former United captain - even if it means taking one of his famous rollickings on the chin.
"You'd have to. Any team would want Roy Keane. He has proven what a top-class player he is. He is a character and a leader and someone everyone would look up to," Gabbidon said.
"He'd have a massive effect on the field and off the field. He is a leader and we are a fairly young team. That experience would help us younger players.
"He is still a top-class player. Those are the kind of players we want to attract to the club. If it is possible it would be a great signing."
West Ham have made contact with Keane's advisors and are now waiting for the player to assess his options.
Celtic, the club Keane supported as a boy, remain the most likely destination but Bolton, Manchester City, Portsmouth, West Brom and Wigan have all expressed an interest in the 34-year-old.
West Ham manager Alan Pardew's policy has been to recruit young players with potential - Gabbidon is one of six first-team regulars playing their first season in the Premiership - but he has reinforced the squad with a number of experienced men like Teddy Sheringham and Roy Carroll.
The combination has helped West Ham work their way to ninth in the table and Pardew is convinced Keane can help lift them to the next level and a chase for European qualification.
Hammers assistant Peter Grant said yesterday: "Roy has got a winning mentality and has never accepted second best. That is what we are striving for here. Someone like that would give the club a huge lift."
Pardew has challenged his players to maintain that top-half status over the next month to help convince the likes Keane and other transfer targets that West Ham is their best option.
Gabbidon explained: "We can go out there, put in good performances, win games and get ourselves up the league and hopefully then West Ham would look a more interesting proposition to him.
"West Ham has always been a big club and it is good to be back in the Premiership because that is where the club belongs.
"The interest in signing Roy Keane shows the club has moved on. We are rebuilding again."
