Zola ready to walk away: McLeish lined up as replacement

Poignant SG

According to The Mirror, West Ham United co-owner David Sullivan has continued his tirade against the club's players by telling them that they are all "fat, lazy and useless".

The former Birmingham City overseer made waves earlier in the week when he dubbed the team "pathetic" in an open letter after their embarrassing 3-1 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

And while he and his partner David Gold have thrown their support behind manager Gianfranco Zola, the Hammers' underperforming stars have had to deal with still more criticism from the top.

It is said that Sullivan interrupted a team meeting on Thursday to tell the players first hand just what he thought of them, an act that sent Upton Park into an uproar.

Only the intervention of Steve Clarke prevented the spectactle from turning into an altogether uglier scene, with the assistant manager ushering Sullivan away from the enraged players.

Of the incident, Zola is quoted as saying: “It’s not necessary to get into the details. It’s important we focus on what we have to do in the game [this weekend] rather than anything else.”

West Ham, who are diving towards the relegation zone, will face Stoke City on Saturday afternoon.

Poignant SG

West Ham's Premier League future is hanging by a thread after they crashed to a sixth straight defeat as Stoke grabbed a 1-0 win at Upton Park. Stoke striker Ricardo Fuller came off the bench to score a brilliant solo goal after 69 minutes to send West Ham spiralling towards the relegation trap-door.

Hull's victory over Fulham at the KC Stadium meant West Ham's cushion has been lost with only goal difference keeping them out of the bottom three.

West Ham co-owner David Sullivan had blasted the midweek 3-1 defeat to Wolves as "pathetic" and "appalling" and there was little evidence of an improvement today.

In an open letter to supporters Sullivan also pointed to West Ham's lack of quality players and, Scott Parker and Carlton Cole apart, that was clearly evident as they once again lacked passion and ideas.

Gianfranco Zola made five changes from the Wolves defeat, a couple of which raised more than a few eyebrows around Upton Park.

Poignant SG

West Ham United manager Gianfranco Zola is to consider his future in charge of the east London club overnight after another defeat nudged the Hammers closer to the Premier League relegation zone.

The Italian watched his side slump to another home beating, this time losing 1-0 to Stoke City at Upton Park.

With Hull City winning at home against Fulham, Zola's men are now level on points with Iain Dowie's side, who occupy the third and final relegation place.

"I have to find out what the problem is," Zola said, according to BBC Sport. "If the problem is me then why not [resign]?

"The players are trying hard for us. The bottom line is to see whether I can help them or not.

"I will consider overnight whether I am doing a good job or not."

A midweek 3-1 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers prompted one of the club's owners, David Sullivan, to write an open letter to supporters to read on the club's official website, in which he dubbed the performance 'pathetic'.

Saturday's loss against Stoke leaves the Hammers in 17th place, level on points with Hull City one place below them, who have a game in hand.

dragg SG

west ham really arent playing together as a team.

they are probably the worst team in the premiership.

zola must go. maybe not now but in the summer.

i love zola as a player but as a manager..... its disappointing.

i love west ham. i hope they can stay up.

Poignant SG

Final act: West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola looks dejected as he consoles Scott Parker following their 1-0 defeat by Stoke City

Gianfranco Zola was considering quitting as West Ham manager last night after the club's sixth successive Premier League defeat put them on the brink of relegation.

The Italian said he was ready to sacrifice himself if it would help rescue the club, who are kept out of the bottom three only on goal difference.

Hull beat Fulham 2-0 to draw level on points with a game in hand, while Ricardo Fuller's 69th-minute strike condemned West Ham to a 1-0 home defeat by Stoke.

Walking away now, with six games left, would allow the club to install a short-term replacement in a bid for Premier League survival. Glenn Hoddle, David O'Leary and Graeme Souness have been considered for that role, but Birmingham boss Alex McLeish is the man co-chairmen David Sullivan and David Gold want in the summer if West Ham are still in the top flight.

It is understood that former Birmingham owners Sullivan and Gold have run out of patience with Zola, but the possibility of going back to their old club to approach McLeish is bound to stir up trouble with their successors, with whom they have a difficult relationship.

Zola has three years left on his West Ham contract and earns £1.9million a year. Sacking him and assistant Steve Clarke could cost £3.5m, a huge sum for a club already massively in debt.

Hammer blow: Ricardo Fuller celebrates after firing the winner

Asked if he was walking away from the job, Zola said: 'If the problem is me, why not? I will have to think about it a lot overnight. The players are trying very hard and the bottom line is to see whether I can help them or not.

'It would be difficult to walk away. I have a big bond with the players. Losing today was very painful and there is a lot to think about. It will be a weekend where I will be talking to the owners a lot.'

Gold, who went to see Zola after yesterday's defeat, said as he left Upton Park: 'We had a meeting with him, we assured him that we were right behind him.

'We've got six very difficult games and he's got to get some results for us. But we're absolutely 100 per cent behind him.

Zola in bubble: West Ham have lost their last six games

'My decision is he's our manager as we speak. We don't have a replacement in mind.'

The defeat by Stoke and the humiliation by Wolves last Tuesday has undoubtedly pushed Zola towards the exit door, but the writing has been on the wall for the Italian since Sullivan and Gold took control in January.

Sullivan launched a scathing attack on West Ham's players, the team's tactics and organisation after the 3-1 defeat against Wolves at Upton Park, which upset Zola.

There were further problems at the training ground when the co-chairman is thought to have clashed with players and been told to leave a meeting by Clarke.

Feeling the pain: West Ham's Carlton Cole after their defeat by Stoke

However, Zola insisted they did not add to those difficulties last night. 'The owners are behind us,' he said.

'I don't know if they will sack me. I don't think so, but it is not a problem. I know my duties and know the situation is not going the way it should. I accept that.

'I don't think the players are playing against us. Obviously, looking at the results, I am not getting the best out of them.

'The fans have been great and I am sorry we couldn't give them a better response.

'I am here just to do a good job for this club and will consider overnight whether I am or not.'

Y_Shun SG

Is Zola really at fault? I think it is unfortunate that he did not really have the finance to get the players he want, right?

Sure enough West Ham got a good backbone of a team such as Robert Green, Matthew Upson, Scott Parker and Carlton Cole.

However if any one of them does not perform well, it will just mean the team results will be bad.

And...the West Ham strikers seriously suck balls. Diamanti and Mido is uber crap.

Y_Shun SG

5 West Ham strikers, yet none of them can help them score goals....

Rooney9 SG

are they any good? even carlton cole is not that good

As romanista2001 SG

mcleish ? mah die faster................

Y_Shun SG

are they any good? even carlton cole is not that good

At least he is decent enough for mid-range teams.

Rooney9 SG

west ham is not mid range. its in the bottom half.

Poignant SG

Gianfranco Zola has vowed to remain at West Ham and fight the battle against relegation.

Manager Zola made his decision to stay at Upton Park after a dramatic day which saw him fly home to Sardinia to consider his future in the wake of his side's dismal 1-0 defeat by Stoke on Saturday.

It came just hours after his seemingly-astonishing move to reward his beleaguered players, his assistant Steve Clarke, and himself with three days off, despite a sixth consecutive defeat.

Defiant: Under-fire Zola has returned to Italy but has vowed to stay at West Ham

A friend of the Italian told Sportsmail that, despite the criticism he had suffered, the West Ham boss was determined not to walk away from the situation with just six Barclays Premier League matches to go.

Zola was publicly criticised by joint chairman David Sullivan in the wake of last Tuesday's humiliating home loss to fellow strugglers Wolves, but co-chairman David Gold visited the dressing room on Saturday evening and gave the manager his backing.

Sullivan would have sacked Zola earlier but has been swayed by Gold to allow him to stay until the end of the season.

The feeling in the boardroom after the Stoke defeat was more supportive of Zola than of late, with Sullivan, Gold and vice-chairman Karren Brady praising an improved performance after the 'shambolic' display of four days earlier.

On standby: Souness turned down the chance to replace Zola but Hoddle could

West Ham are reluctant to sack Zola and assistant Steve Clarke as it would mean they had to pay off a percentage of the pair's indulgent annual salaries.

Zola signed a new three-year contract worth £1.9million a year last summer and Clarke earns £900,000 a year, more than double Mike Phelan, his counterpart at Manchester United.

The board's other problem is the lack of credible alternatives. Former Liverpool and Rangers boss Graeme Souness has already turned down the chance to take over for West Ham's remaining six games and Sullivan and Gold have also ruled out the possibility of Sir Trevor Brooking returning to the dug-out.

They're off: West Ham's losers have been granted three days off from training

If Zola had decided to walk away, they would have needed someone who is available immediately.

Former England and Spurs boss Glenn Hoddle would have fitted the bill, perhaps with a former West Ham favourite working alongside him in an attempt to appease the fans.

dragg SG

thank you souness for turning down the job.

dukedracula SG

good players usually fail at managing other players...while crap players tend to do better at management....steve clark was nuts to have joined zola......

ASKL! SG

Zola confirms he will remain West Ham manager

Zola's future has been the subject of sustained debate in recent days following a public dispute with co-owner David Sullivan and a run of poor form, and a 1-0 loss to Stoke at Upton Park on Saturday saw Zola return home to Italy to contemplate his future.

But with West Ham only sitting above the relegation zone due to a superior goal difference than Hull City, Zola is intent on preventing the London club from sliding into the Championship.

"I am determined to carry on," read the statement. "Losing on Saturday was emotional for everyone but I know we can turn it around and we have the ability to achieve our objectives."

Zola, who is expected to return to London on Tuesday to take training having given the team three days off, became involved in a spat with Sullivan last week after the co-owner described a performance against Wolves as "shambolic" and "pathetic".

Zola had warned Sullivan his words could have a damaging impact on the team and further tensions were exposed when Sullivan was asked to stay away from a team meeting at the training ground. But the manager says both Sullivan and David Gold are supportive of his leadership and that the club are now focused on staying in the top flight.

"They have backed me and I am grateful,'' added Zola. "My only thought for now is to keep this club in the Premier League and that remains my goal. I'll give everything I can to make this happen between now and the end of the season.

"I have had time to think and we will have to work harder than we have before. I know we can get the results we need and it is just a question of making it happen. The performance was better on Saturday but it is still not the level we should be at. We can, and will, do better as a team.

"I have a great staff and we will work together to find the solutions. We have a responsibility to turn things around and that is what we will do. I am here and I am ready to do what I need to do to get the results. There is no doubt about that. We have seen before we are capable of playing at a high level.

"We will go to Everton determined to get a result. People might not expect us to get something from the match but we will be positive. No-one should write us off. Although we are in a serious position we have time to sort things out and be in control of our destiny at the end of the season.

"We said before Stoke that one game would not define the season but we know each of the games left will be cup finals. They will be massive and I know the fans will once again get behind us starting with Everton and we will give everything to reward their support. They have been brilliant and we owe them.''