Gianfranco Zola's future as West Ham boss in doubt after owners demand sale of key players
Published 22:48 15/08/09 By By Paul Smith
Gianfranco Zola’s spectacular reign as West Ham boss could be about to end.
The Hammers manager will not sanction the sale of his key players before the transfer window closes at the end of this month.
Icelandic owners Straumur have demanded the immediate sale of key men like Carlton Cole, Mark Noble, Matthew Upson, Robert Green and Scott Parker to meet mounting debts.
Zola and chief executive Scott Duxbury are embroiled in a war with the board.
Duxbury is seen as a particular problem because he is so closely aligned to Zola and the project of mixing home-grown players with some big-name internationals.
The pair are pushing hard for new strikers and are totally opposed to the sale of star men.
Straumur, the financially stricken parent company, are happy to raise funds by selling key members of the playing staff before sanctioning a takeover of the Premier League club to generate much-needed funding for their business.
A Middle East consortium withdrew its interest in the club after discovering what Straumur intended to do. A spokesman for that consortium said last night: “The club are in a state of complete disarray.
“The key personnel at the club like Zola, Duxbury and coach Steve Clarke appear to be at war with the board.
“Our interest in the club came to an abrupt end when we discovered what Straumur were intending to do.”
Zola’s future, and that of his close ally Duxbury, remain in the melting pot.
Boardroom battles at Upton Park have reached breaking point and show no sign of subsiding.
Zola and Duxbury have maintained that they can generate enough cash by selling fringe players including midfielders Nigel Quashie, Luis Boa Morte and Julien Faubert, and even injured striker Dean Ashton.
But the asset management group, who bought the club in June, is in the middle of a restructuring process and has demands to meet from several creditors.
And they insist the sale of key players in the West Ham squad is non-negotiable and will go ahead regardless of the consequences.
The news will undoubtedly come as a stunning blow to Hammers fans just a day after they got their Premier League season under way with a 2-0 victory at Wolves.
The sale of key personnel could see West Ham fighting for survival this season and lead to fears about their immediate Premier League future.
Zola was seen as a high-risk appointment when he was handed the job last September.
He had no managerial experience, but the fact that he persuaded his old friend Steve Clarke to leave Chelsea and be his assistant was critical to the move.
Zola has won over the Hammers’ players with his deep knowledge of the game.
Clarke provides the experience, coaching and tactical nous.
As a unit, they have made an impressive start to their West Ham careers.
Their team has played in the attractive manner expected by Hammers’ supporters.
