Coffee break: Zola brings drinks for reporters
West Ham appear to be on course
for another legal battle after the acrimonious sacking of manager
Gianfranco Zola.
Zola was summoned to Upton Park yesterday and fired by deputy
chairman Karren Brady after a season when the Hammers finished 17th
in the Barclays Premier League.
Avram Grant and Glenn Hoddle are among names on a shortlist to
replace Zola, who was told he was in breach of contract for public
criticism of co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold.
The Italian will fight the allegation. He had three years
remaining on a £1.9millon-a-year contract he signed last year,
which includes a severance clause entitling him to one year's pay
if he is sacked. His legal team are also expected to point to
provocation from Sullivan and Gold, who took over the club in
January.
The comments which are being held against Zola were made in
response to Sullivan's declaration that all West Ham players would
be up for sale in the summer except captain Scott Parker.
'If I was Mark Noble or Robert Green or Valon Behrami, I
wouldn't be very pleased to hear that,' said Zola at the time.
'It's not pleasant. You don't like it but this is the way it goes.
I've been surprised so many times this year, so I am not surprised
that I am surprised.'
Outspoken: Sullivan (left) has voiced concerns
about Zola since buying West Ham
Zola's relationship with co-owners Sullivan and Gold has
been strained. The manager came close to quitting in March after
successive home defeats by Wolves and Stoke and remarks from
Sullivan, who branded the team 'shambolic' and
'disorganised'.
The Italian was also unhappy that the board had made a £4m offer
for West Bromwich Albion's Scotland midfielder Graham Dorrans
without his knowledge.
Yesterday, Zola served coffee to reporters and photographers
camped outside his house but refused to comment beyond a statement
which said: 'I am extremely disappointed to be leaving West Ham
United. Over recent weeks, I have been the subject of various
adverse comments, from within the club, which have been widely
reported in the media.
'Despite what has been a very difficult period for me, I have
thoroughly enjoyed my time at West Ham. I would like to sincerely
thank the players and my staff for their continued support, hard
work and commitment. I am extremely proud of their efforts, over a
long, difficult season.
Lowest point: The knives were out after a crushing
defeat at home to Wolves
'West Ham is a great club with fantastic supporters and
I wish the club every success in the future.'
Zola arrived at Upton Park in September 2008 to replace Alan
Curbishley, who took the club to a tribunal claiming constructive
dismissal. He settled his case with Sullivan earlier this year and
is understood to have been paid nearly £2m plus court costs. It
followed another costly court case when the Hammers were forced to
pay £25m in compensation to Sheffield United.
Zola has enlisted the League Managers' Association to help with
his case. 'Clear communication and a supportive framework at the
top of a football club are essential for stability and delivering
results,' said LMA chairman Richard Bevan.
'Gianfranco has had to manage his team through a period of
significant uncertainty at the club and has shown dedication,
resilience and commitment to his players, staff and the
fans.'
Portsmouth manager Grant, set to leave after Saturday's FA Cup
final, is on the West Ham shortlist. Grant has worked closely in
the past with Steve Clarke, Zola's assistant, who has three years
left on his contract and has been asked to stay on.
Short stay: It was all smiles when Zola was
unveiled as the club's new boss in September 2008 (left) but things
soon turned sour in his second season
Grant and Clarke took Chelsea to the Champions League
final in 2008 before the Israeli was replaced at Stamford Bridge by
Luiz Felipe Scolari and the Scot joined Zola at Upton
Park.
Former Croatia coach Slaven Bilic has told West Ham he is not
interested in the job but Hoddle is a surprise name also under
consideration. The former England boss has spent the last two years
establishing a football academy in Spain and working in media.
Real Mallorca boss Gregorio Manzano, who has taken his team to
the brink of the Champions League, is another on the list but
Sullivan and Gold earned a reputation for employing British
managers at Birmingham, where they recruited Barry Fry, Trevor
Francis, Steve Bruce and Alex McLeish.
Peter Reid, currently No 2 to Tony Pulis at Stoke, wants to
return to management and is being actively considered, as are a
quartet of successful managers from the Championship - Dave Jones,
Nigel Pearson, Ian Holloway and Paulo Sousa.
Birmingham City have made an enquiry about signing West Ham and
England striker
Carlton Cole.
