Speaking to the Hammers website, external, Bowen said: “My main motivation is staying and bringing this club back to the Premier League where we belong.
“It was only right for me to speak at the right time. Ultimately it [relegation] hurt everyone and it should hurt everyone.
“I flew out to Prague to meet (club directors) Daniel [Kretinsky] and Jiri [Svarc] and the ambition that I got from them, certainly in terms of the direction the club wants to move in, it interests me a lot. It didn’t take a lot, because this club means a lot to me.
“For me, when you’re here for a longer amount of time, you gain more affection, you grow into the club more, you grow into your role more and more, and I think that’s what I’ve done.
“I’ve been here six and a half years and transitioned from a boy to a man and I’ve never tried to hide away from anything.
“There are things you can do better, but certainly in my character on the pitch and off the pitch, I never try and hide away from anything and shift the blame.
“I always try and stand up for them and just kind of live my life as captain of West Ham and also as a fan as well.
“I see myself in years to come as a West Ham fan. So, I always think ‘what would they want as a fan if they got the opportunity to play on the pitch?’. For me, I think I’m like that character as well, so I think that’s the way.”
Bowen will now continue his pre-season preparations with head coach Nuno Espirito Santo, who confirmed that he will remain at the club for the new season back in May.
After a home clash against Portsmouth in the first round of the Carabao Cup a week prior, West Ham kick off their Championship season away at fellow relegated club Burnley on Sunday, 16 August [16:00 BST].
