Tevez saga 'resolved soon' - Zola

14 March 2009 13:25
The drama has been going on behind the scenes ever since the Blades were relegated in 2007, with Tevez - who should have been ineligible to play because of a third-party ownership row - scoring the goals that kept the Hammers up in their place.[LNB]United had initially lodged a claim for as much as £45million - the figure they estimated as the true cost of relegation.[LNB]West Ham rated the loss at no more than £5million but suffered a blow last year when an independent Football Association tribunal chaired by Lord Griffiths supported the South Yorkshire side's claims.[LNB]It appears a settlement of around £10million - spread over a period over five years - has been struck.[LNB]Hammers manager Zola therefore hopes he can soon get back to the business of planning for next season and beyond.[LNB]"I hope it will be resolved soon and I am confident it will be," said the Italian.[LNB]"It's looking good at the moment and it would be a good thing for the club -because then we can sit down and plan for the future, knowing exactly where we are and what we are dealing with.[LNB]"I believe they are trying to find an agreement, and I hope they do that as soon as possible. That would give us a clear picture for the future, and we can sit down and plan."[LNB]Asked if he is troubled by the Tevez saga, and the constant speculation over the financial viability of the club's Icelandic owners, Zola remained pragmatic.[LNB]"I personally have to focus on the work on the pitch. That is why the club employed me," he reasons.[LNB]"I'm 100% focused on my job. It is my responsibility to make sure things on the pitch work well. If I can do that I can be helpful to the club.[LNB]"This is the world of football. I know it is not just about kicking the ball for us right now; it is dealing with other things. But whatever the worry, I know I can switch on to the football and not let other things get in the way."[LNB]Zola's immediate concern is Monday's match against the Premier League's bottom side, West Brom.[LNB]Although such a fixture is often looked on as three easy points by outsiders, Zola is urging caution from his players.[LNB]"This is not going to be a 'gimme', that's for sure," he warned.[LNB]"They are playing well and have been unlucky in some situations.[LNB]"We need to respect them, and it is a big danger for us.[LNB]"We are playing well. But when you play against last in the table it can give the players too much confidence, and that is something we must avoid at all costs.[LNB]"So we are in a state of alert."[LNB][LNB][LNB]

Source: Team_Talk