England goalkeeper James Trafford has given West Ham players an insight into what working with Scott Parker can be like after admitting the pair initially disliked each other at Burnley.

The Leeds goalkeeper, who worked under the new Hammers boss at Turf Moor, says they had a difficult start to their relationship and struggled to connect.

But by the end of their time together, things had changed considerably, with Scott Parker coming to understand Trafford and the pair developing a much better relationship.

It is an interesting insight for Parker’s new West Ham squad, particularly after the manager’s hands-on approach at Rush Green following Nuno Espirito Santo’s departure.

Trafford explains what working with Parker might be like

As always seems to be the case when the Hammers sack a manager, the dirt was soon being dished after Nuno received his P45 last week.

There have been claims Nuno barely spoke to certain West Ham players and staff in and around the first team and training ground.

It was also reported that Nuno spent only around 10 minutes working on the opposition, focusing on their kick-offs and set-pieces.

So when his replacement Parker was spotted barking orders at the team and getting hands-on during training, it was lapped up by many Hammers fans.

There was a feeling that this kind of approach might finally get the team going. But it was the same garbage, different manager as West Ham lost again, going down 2-1 at Blackburn.

Most supporters will hope the players ultimately enjoy working under the passionate Parker. Several who have played for the three-time Championship promotion-winning manager at previous clubs certainly speak positively about him.

But Trafford’s experience suggests that building a relationship with the new West Ham boss might not be instantaneous for everyone.

The England goalkeeper admits he and Parker disliked one another at the beginning of their time together at Burnley, before eventually working through their differences.

‘Different’ Trafford admits he and Parker disliked one another

“I’m kind of like a ‘different’ character,” Trafford told BBC Sport.

“A lot of people just don’t understand me. Even players that I play with, other players, coaches get me wrong.

“I don’t know (what they get wrong, just) me. I had a big one with like Scott Parker.

“We had a very, very weird start to my time at Burnley with him.

“I don’t think he liked me too much, I didn’t really like him too much, it was just weird.

“We couldn’t connect, it was hard.

“But then by the end of it he understood me really, really well and we got along really, really well.

“I don’t know (how we got to that point), I actually don’t know. Probably (helped that I was playing well) but he really understood me (by the end).”

It is refreshing to hear such honesty from a player, and there is a valuable lesson in Trafford’s experience for Parker’s new squad.

Parker clearly does not need to be everyone’s best mate from day one. His relationship with Trafford began badly, but he eventually found a way to understand the goalkeeper and get the best out of him.

That is an encouraging reflection on the new Hammers boss, particularly given the defensive success Burnley enjoyed under him.

Trafford was part of the side that conceded just 16 goals in the Championship as Burnley set a new defensive record on their way to promotion.

His comments suggest Parker was prepared to work through an initially awkward relationship rather than allow it to become a permanent problem.

That could prove important at West Ham, where several players have had difficult relationships with the previous manager and will now be hoping for a fresh start.

Nuno faced criticism for the way he handled certain members of his squad, with players becoming increasingly marginalised rather than being brought back into the fold.

Parker’s challenge is to get a fractured squad pulling in the same direction. Trafford’s experience gives his new players a glimpse of what to expect: an initially difficult relationship does not have to remain that way if both sides are prepared to work at it.

For West Ham, that could prove just as important as the intensity and organisation supporters have already seen on the training pitch.