PNE will be delighted with the news yesterday that Chelsea have captured the signing of Joe Cole in a 6.6 million move, a loss which ex Hammer Boss Harry Redknapp claimed was a ‘disgrace’.
They have lost most of the nucleus of their Premiership side since they went down from the Premiership in May, players include Cole, Sinclair and Kanoute to name but a few.
But the Whites cannot be complacent at this news, as West Ham have still revived a team full of quality. The Hammers still can brag that they have stars in the like of James, Defoe and Carrick who have kept their loyalty, even if it threatens their international careers.
PNE are full of confidence after the season of 'could-haves' and a huge boost of the return of Ricardo Fuller. PNE have refreshed their squad, bringing new faces of Briscoe and Davis, getting rid of the old Murdock, Rankine and Tepi.
Brown said: " This is my squad now. It needed a wee bit of freshening up and maybe some of the guys like Mark Rankine, Tepi and Colin Murdock had been here a bit too long.
"They were all good players and good servants to the club but freshening up the squad was important.
"But I must commend the squad I inherited because it was excellent."
The Whites only injury worry is Paul McKenna, who strung a good set of performances in pre-season. But he knocked his ankle in training on Tuesday and looks ‘doubtful.
The first five league games will be a test for the Whites, as if they get off to a good start against these previously Premiership teams, then they will set their ground in the division and start off with huge confidence of promotion come May.
Captain fantastic Chris Lucketti said "On paper it’s a very tough start.
"But the big games are the ones we all want to play in and catch them all while they are still finding their feet we can do well.
"It’s massively important that we make a good start. Last season we did okay, but we drew too many games.
"West Ham are a top side and were probably unlucky to get relegated on the last day of the season because they had started to pick up results.
"But who knows on the starting day of the season?"