Source: Daily_Mail
Gianfranco Zola's bitter exit from West Ham paves the way for Portsmouth's Avram Grant
[LNB]Coffee break: Zola brings drinks for reporters[LNB]West Ham appear to be on course for another legal battle after the acrimonious sacking of manager Gianfranco Zola.[LNB] Zola was summoned to Upton Park yesterday and fired by deputy chairman Karren Brady after a season when the Hammers finished 17th in the Barclays Premier League. [LNB]Avram Grant and Glenn Hoddle are among names on a shortlist to replace Zola, who was told he was in breach of contract for public criticism of co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold. [LNB]The Italian will fight the allegation. He had three years remaining on a £1.9mililon-a-year contract he signed last year, which includes a severance clause entitling him to one year's pay if he is sacked. His legal team are also expected to point to provocation from Sullivan and Gold, who took over the club in January. [LNB]The comments which are being held against Zola were made in response to Sullivan's declaration that all West Ham players would be up for sale in the summer except captain Scott Parker. [LNB]'If I was Mark Noble or Robert Green or Valon Behrami, I wouldn't be very pleased to hear that,' said Zola at the time. 'It's not pleasant. You don't like it but this is the way it goes. I've been surprised so many times this year, so I am not surprised that I am surprised.'[LNB]VIDEO: Zola axed by Hammers...Outspoken: Sullivan (left) has voiced concerns about Zola since buying West Ham[LNB] Zola's relationship with co-owners Sullivan and Gold has been strained. The manager came close to quitting in March after successive home defeats by Wolves and Stoke and remarks from Sullivan, who branded the team 'shambolic' and 'disorganised'. [LNB]The Italian was also unhappy that the board had made a £4m offer for West Bromwich Albion's Scotland midfielder Graham Dorrans without his knowledge. [LNB]Yesterday, Zola served coffee to reporters and photographers camped outside his house but refused to comment beyond a statement which said: 'I am extremely disappointed to be leaving West Ham United. Over recent weeks, I have been the subject of various adverse comments, from within the club, which have been widely reported in the media. [LNB]'Despite what has been a very difficult period for me, I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at West Ham. I would like to sincerely thank the players and my staff for their continued support, hard work and commitment. I am extremely proud of their efforts, over a long, difficult season.[LNB]Lowest point: The knives were out after a crushing defeat at home to Wolves[LNB] 'West Ham is a great club with fantastic supporters and I wish the club every success in the future.' [LNB]Zola arrived at Upton Park in September 2008 to replace Alan Curbishley, who took the club to a tribunal claiming constructive dismissal. He settled his case with Sullivan earlier this year and is understood to have been paid nearly £2m plus court costs. It followed another costly court case when the Hammers were forced to pay £25m in compensation to Sheffield United. [LNB]Zola has enlisted the League Managers' Association to help with his case. 'Clear communication and a supportive framework at the top of a football club are essential for stability and delivering results,' said LMA chairman Richard Bevan.[LNB] 'Gianfranco has had to manage his team through a period of significant uncertainty at the club and has shown dedication, resilience and commitment to his players, staff and the fans.' [LNB]Portsmouth manager Grant, set to leave after Saturday's FA Cup final,is on the West Ham shortlist. Grant has worked closely in the past withSteve Clarke, Zola's assistant, who has three years left on hiscontract and has been asked to stay on.[LNB] Short stay: It was all smiles when Zola was unveiled as the club's new boss in September 2008 (left) but things soon turned sour in his second season[LNB]Grant and Clarke took Chelsea to the Champions League final in 2008 before the Israeli was replaced at Stamford Bridge by Luiz Felipe Scolari and the Scot joined Zola at Upton Park. [LNB]Former Croatia coach Slaven Bilic has told West Ham he is not interested in the job but Hoddle is a surprise name also under consideration. The former England boss has spent the last two years establishing a football academy in Spain and working in media. [LNB] Real Mallorca boss Gregorio Manzano, who has taken his team to the brink of the Champions League, is another on the list but Sullivan and Gold earned a reputation for employing British managers at Birmingham, where they recruited Barry Fry, Trevor Francis, Steve Bruce and Alex McLeish. [LNB]Peter Reid, currently No 2 to Tony Pulis at Stoke, wants to return to management and is being actively considered, as are a quartet of successful managers from the Championship - Dave Jones, Nigel Pearson, Ian Holloway and Paulo Sousa.[LNB]Birmingham City have made an enquiry about signing West Ham and England strikerCarlton Cole.[LNB] Zola sacked by West Ham as owners boot out Italian after miserable seasonAlan Pardew faces Southampton sack as club line up Steve Cotterill as replacementHammer hopefuls: the main candidates to replace Gianfranco Zola as West Ham's next bossWEST HAM UNITED FC
