Grant in the frame for West Ham job - Exclusive

Avram Grant is a shock managerial contender for West Ham as Gianfranco Zola prepares to quit, despite keeping the club up.

Zola, 43, is certain to leave his £1.8million-a-year contract at Upton Park as he is unhappy with the club's new board.

And Hammers' joint-chairman David Sullivan has refused to guarantee the future of Zola after the Italian secured the club's top-flight status.

Now former Chelsea boss Grant, 54, is on the Hammers' short-list of possible replacements after taking Portsmouth to the FA Cup final.

Grant took charge at Fratton Park last November but could not stop relegation after Pompey were hit with a points deduction for going into administration.

But the Israeli has restored his reputation and is joined by Martin Jol, Steve McClaren and Slaven Bilic on West Ham's short-list.

No final decision by Zola or the club will be announced until after crunch end-of-season talks between Sullivan, David Gold and the Hammers boss.

But Sullivan last night offered no assurances about Zola when he spoke to MirrorFootball .

Sullivan said: "We will sit down with him at the end of the season and decide what he wants.

"He has indicated he doesn't want to discuss his position until the end of the season."

MirrorFootball revealed West Ham's interest in former England manager McClaren,48, earlier this month after his successful spell at FC Twente.
West Ham want McClaren as new boss - Exclusive

Ex-West Ham player Bilic,41, now in charge of Croatia, would be a popular choice, while former Tottenham manager Jol,54, enjoyed success with Hamburg in Germany before moving to Ajax in his homeland.