Lucas Neill has slammed claims his $125,000 per week move to West Ham was motivated by money, saying he believes the struggling English Premier League club can become one of the empires of the game.

Neill, 28, clocked on for the first time at West Ham on Tuesday after his STG1.5 million move from Blackburn Rovers was sealed on Monday.

Reports have put Neill's weekly salary at Upton Park at $125,000 to as much as $175,000 per week - with the benefit of an escape clause if they can not get out of the relegation zone - but the Australian defender rubbishes the exaggerations and says money was not the reason he chose West Ham ahead of Liverpool.

"At no stage did the issue of money enter into the footballing decision I was making," Neill said.

"Yes, I want to be secure like everyone, but more importantly I want to know that I am going to be content, happy and playing football every week.

"Some of the figures that have been mentioned are just ridiculous, and the whole thing was blown way out of proportion.

"Anyone who thinks I joined West Ham simply for money is way off the mark.

"People have questioned why I signed for West Ham and not Liverpool, but I don't understand that.

"Yes, Liverpool is a great club with a fantastic history but, equally, West Ham have produced people like Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, Martin Peters, Trevor Brooking and Billy Bonds over the years.

"If people want to insult my decision to play for West Ham, then they are insulting some of the greatest players the game has produced, including the three men who led England to the World Cup in 1966."

Neill, 28, was lured to the East London club by conversations he had with its new owner Eggert Magnusson.

"At this stage of my career, playing regularly is very important to me and I don't feel that I will be a bit-part player here," Neill said.

"Mr Magnusson expressed his desire to sign me, explained his plans for the future and said that he wanted me to be a big part of those plans, which made me feel ten feet tall.

"After two minutes in his company, I realised how hard the club had worked to sign me, and that made a very big impression.

"It is clear that he is building an empire here, and I am very excited about being here at the start of something potentially huge.

"I do think that some people are a bit clouded by the team's current position.

"Not so long ago, West Ham had been two minutes from winning the FA Cup after a fantastic season and, if I had joined then, people wouldn't have even raised an eyebrow.

"I just have a gut feeling and a sense of warmth about this move.

"Short term, we are in a tough position but there is already a great squad here and, with the players who have signed during January, I'm sure we will lift ourselves out of it soon."

West Ham manager Alan Curbishley said Neill was at the top of his shopping list when he took over following the sacking of Alan Pardew.

"He is a player with vast experience, who has played in the World Cup finals for Australia and is now captain of his country," Curbishley said.

"He can play not only as a right-back, but anywhere across the back four - as he proved when appearing for Australia as a central defender during the World Cup and, most recently, as a left-back for Blackburn Rovers.

"With our current injury problems, especially in the centre of defence, he is someone we are really pleased to welcome here.

"Lucas is one of the players I targeted as soon as I came into the club.

"We know that other clubs were interested in signing him, and so we are delighted that he has decided to join us."

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