Zola sacked

[Dalglish]

Breaking news on BBC

[Bender]

Damn that didn't take long

[Shaggy]

Poor The Zola

[Bender]

Gianfranco Zola has been relieved of his duties as West Ham manager, with Mark Hughes, Martin Jol and Slaven Bilic the favourites to replace him in the Upton Park hotseat.


Zola was sacked after leading the Hammers to their lowest ever Premier League points total, and the club will now make one more final attempt to lure Mark Hughes to the club, while Avram Grant will also be interviewed for the post.

Highly-rated Real Mallorca manager Gregorio Manzano is also in contention after guiding unfancied Real Mallorca to the brink of Champions League qualification, while Martin Jol and former Hammers defender Bilic have been regularly linked with the position.

Hughes and FA Cup Final manager of Portsmouth will be high on the short list to replace Zola, who was dismissed after a showdown meeting with Hammers managing director Karren Brady.

Co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold have always thought of Hughes as the number one choice, but they will want to take their time and would like to interview a full shortlist of candidates before making up their minds.

Hughes has indicated his willingness to hold on for a big job, and is thought to be keen to replace Rafa Benitez at Liverpool , but it might turn out that his best offer for a return to the Premier League arrives at the door of Upton Park.

The co owners wanted Hughes when they took control in January but Hughes indicated that he was still biding his time, and his wage demands would make him one of the to managerial earners after his spell with mega wealthy Manchester City.

[Reece]

Shame really. I got the impression that Gold and Sullivan didn't really want him as manager from the offset though.

[red g]

Shame really. I got the impression that Gold and Sullivan didn't really want him as manager from the offset though.

hatchet job from the start.

[Exiled_red]

Shame really. I got the impression that Gold and Sullivan didn't really want him as manager from the offset though.

[dww]

Sad but it will probably give him the opportunity to get a job at a stable club where he was wanted. i imagine he has learned a lot in his time there.

Be interesting to see what Steve Clarke does now too.

[-V-]

Very harsh as I think he could have really developed and improved West Ham with a bit of money to spend.

However, you can't blame their owners for wanting to remove an inexperienced manager who nearly got them relegated. For the sake of their club it makes sense for them to go for a safer option

Southgate was a similar age when he got Middlesborough relegated wasn't he? That's maybe an example of taking an unnecessary risk just for the sake of 'giving someone a chance'

[Darkon]

Feel sorry for Zola, seems like such a nice guy and a good manager that plays football the way it should.

But the results havn't been fantastic and I have to say that the stunt with him returning to Italy etc. hardly help him on this matter...

[Bender]

You never know could go somewhere like Hull or Burnley

[PTP]

I just seen a headline on the BBC saying

"Dicks tips Bilic to succeed"

I was suprised when i clicked on it was Julian Dicks, not the BBC punditry team of Mark Lawrenson/Lee Dixon etc.

[Exiled_red]

I just seen a headline on the BBC saying

"Dicks tips Bilic to succeed"

I was suprised when i clicked on it was Julian Dicks, not the BBC punditry team of Mark Lawrenson/Lee Dixon etc.

[lickedlollipop]

... to be replaced by Avram Grant