Source: Telegraph
Gianfranco Zola to open talks with Lucas Neill at West Ham
The Australian is at the end of his contract, but manager Gianfranco Zola insisted today that the defender had a future at the club.
West Ham beat Middlesbrough 2-1 yesterday to send Gareth Southgate's team down and secure ninth place, an improvement on last season's 10th finish and Zola insisted it was not Neill's last game for the club.
'I don't think so,' said Zola when asked. 'Hopefully not. I think that in the next few days there will be meetings and something will be happen and I am positive it will be something positive.'
Zola also dismissed speculation linking Matthew Upson with a move from East London, adding: 'I don't know anything about that. Matthew looks to me that he's very happy here and he wants to stay and so it shouldn't be an issue for us.'
Zola has enjoyed his first season in management, having replaced Alan Curbishley in September and keeping West Ham in the race for Europe until the final two games of the season.
'It was important to conclude the season with a nice result in front of our supporters. And now we're really looking forward to next season. Last year we came 10th. This year we're ninth, so we achieved what we wanted.
'There was a moment in the season when we were hoping for something more. We were very unlucky not to get there. We finished two points behind seventh place and in different circumstances, we could easily have been seventh. But I'm really happy with the team. It's been a great season.'
