WEST HAM skipper Lucas Neill has held "preliminary" talks with the club over extending his contract.

The Australia international is approaching the end of the 30-month deal he signed in January 2007.

Neill arrived from Blackburn Rovers for around £1.5million on a bumper £70,000-a-week contract, but the club has been reluctant to extend the deal on those terms as it attempts to cut costs.

The player himself is also reportedly considering a bid to buy an A-League club back in his home city of Sydney, and could return Down Under at the season's end.

“Officially I’m on my last year of my contract. I’ve had preliminary talks (about extension) and there’s been interest from elsewhere,” Neill told Australia's Special Broadcasting Service.

“But, look, I am captain of West Ham and very proud of that and I don’t see it being any different this season.”

Concentrating on the current Premier League campaign, Neill believes the Irons can upset the odds and enjoy a successful 2008/09.

But, despite West Ham's opening day win over Wigan Athletic, the 30-year-old warned the club's supporters not to let their expectations get carried away.

“I’m extremely happy with the squad we have,” he added.

“We have had a good start and we might surprise a few people this year.

“We want the West Ham fans cheering and making noises for the right reasons.

“In this day and age, a lot of money is being spent in a lot of clubs and people want success and they want it quickly.

“However you’ve just got to step back sometimes and realise that these things do not happen overnight. It’s a work in progress.”