Furious £6 million man George McCartney has lambasted his former club for suggesting he orchestrated his move away from Upton Park this week.

McCartney, in Bratislava with the Northern Ireland squad for Saturday’s opening World Cup qualifier against Slovakia, joined Sunderland for the second time in his career on transfer deadline day last Monday.

It is a move that he was delighted to complete for the sake of his young family — partner Elaine, son Kai and daughter Jessica — but he has been left incensed by reports from West Ham United that he put in a transfer request.

McCartney vehemently denies this and insists he was prepared to honour his contract.

The 27-year-old admits he did have a brief conversation with then boss Alan Curbishley where he expressed his desire to make a move back up to the north of England, however after Curbishley informed him he was still very much part of his plans at Upton Park, McCartney accepted this.

“It was up on the West Ham website that I had put in a written transfer request, but I did nothing of the sort,” says McCartney.

“I did have a meeting with the manager and I told him that because of family reasons I would like to move back up north. The manager though stated emphatically he didn’t want me to move and I accepted that.

“I prepared for our game against Blackburn last weekend in the belief that I was staying at West Ham .

“I played in the game, there were no problems between myself, the manager or the players. Obviously on Sunday evening or Monday morning an offer came in from Sunderland and it was accepted by West Ham.

“I went straight up to Sunderland and ended up joining them. I enjoyed my two years at West Ham, they were great. I got on really well with Alan Curbishley, I had no problems with him and rate him highly as a manager.

“My decision to move back up north is purely for family reasons – my family are the most important thing to me especially with kids. If I look a few years down the line when I don’t have football my family will still be there and they are the ones that must always come first. I have them for the rest of my life, not football.”

Curbishley, the Belfast Telegraph understands, had no say in McCartney’s departure to Roy Keane’s Black Cats.

The West Ham board dealt with the entire situation and this was another factor that frustrates McCartney as he believes it shows a lack of respect for Curbishley.

He is fully supportive of his former chief, so when the news came through on Wednesday afternoon that Curbishley had left West Ham, McCartney immediately felt pity for the ex-Charlton boss.

“I’m really disappointed for him and after knowing what’s gone on at the club in the last few weeks, it’s as though Alan hasn’t been able to run the club,” says McCartney.

“It’s unfair considering his achievements over the last few years. He steered West Ham away from relegation when he first came in and then finished 10th last season with only half the squad available. It was a great achievement considering the amount of injuries he had to put up with.

“I feel during the summer, the board didn’t give him the backing or give him the money to spend to bring in new talent. They’ve had to sell players to sort out debts.

“I’m sure if he had stayed then West Ham would have improved on their position from last year.

“Now though I can’t wait to get started work under Roy Keane, he’s done a terrific job. I want to be apart of the plans he has for the club. He’s very ambitious, as am I, so I’m really excited the prospect of working under him.”

McCartney is expected to play a major role in the start of Northern Ireland’s World Cup qualifiers against Slovakia and the Czech Republic next Wednesday.

McCartney will return at left-back against the Slovaks tomorrow and hopes Northern Ireland can build on their away performances during the last 10 months.

“We all know we must improve on our away form and this game against Slovakia is going to be far from easy,” adds McCartney.

“It wasn’t so long ago that Slovakia struck five past Wales at the Millennium Stadium. Any side that does that must be respected.

“I watched the Scotland game on television and thought we played well defensively, but we didn’t really create too many chances going forward.”