Former West Ham United striker Marlon Harewood has praised the club for appointing Slaven Bilic as their new manager.

The ex-Hammers defender penned a three-year contract at Upton Park on Tuesday.

Bilic has replaced Sam Allardyce, who parted company with the club at the end of last season.

Harewood, who enjoyed a four-year spell as a West Ham player between 2003 and 2007, believes that the Croatian will turn out to be a success in East London.

So happy @whufc_official have appointed Slaven Bilic as their new manager and hope he succeeds, good times ahead! #WHUFC #Bilic

— Marlon Harewood (@Mazer_9) June 9, 2015

Bilic made nearly 50 appearances as a player for West Ham before joining Everton in 1997.