Former West Ham captain Nigel Reo Coker, who has lived in the US for a number of years, attended the Hammers open training session in Florida and discussed with the clubs official website how West Ham can tap into the large American market for potential new fans in the future.

In 2005, at the tender age of 21 years old, Reo Coker became the Hammers youngest ever captain, helping guide the club to an FA Cup final as well as helping to restore the Hammers place as a Premier League side.

Having played for a number of clubs in the MLS, the US is where Reo Coker has called home for several years now. After his playing days drew to a close, the 40 year old moved to Florida where he started his career in the media.

These days, the former Hammer is a pundit on CBS Sports Golazo Network. He is also currently in the process of  completing his coaching badges and has ambitions to work in the game in some capacity either as a coach or scout, discussing undertaking his badges with the clubs website Reo Coker said: “I’ve always embraced experiences and wanted to understand different cultures, and I want to be able to do that by staying in football. I’m doing my coaching badges currently and am on my ‘A’ Licence now and I’ve got a love for knowledge of the game I want to pass down.”

Speaking about ‘soccer’ fans and the love for the Premier League across the pond, Reo Coker said: “Most of the soccer fans you speak to in America have an appetite for it and that’s why, crazily enough, there is a bigger love for Premier League clubs than domestic clubs, in some ways.”

Going on to look at how West Ham could tap into this market of fans in the States looking for a Premier League side to follow, the former Hammers captain said: “There are still lots of American fans looking for a Premier League club to support. When they look at West Ham it has everything, the London factor and the East End and loads of Americans know about Cockney rhyme and want to go there, so we need to keep spreading the word.” Adding: “This is an untapped market and there are plenty more people who could become West Ham fans.”