Source: Daily_Mail
Rift widens at West Ham as Zola and Sullivan clash over Behrami contract
Valon Behrami's future at West Ham has been thrown into doubt after manager Gianfranco Zola and co-owner David Sullivan clashed over a contract offer for the Swiss star.[LNB]Zola is keen to keep a player who has become a terrace favourite at Upton Park since his arrival in 2008, whereas Sullivan sees the 24-year-old as a potential means of cutting into the debt that hangs over the London club. [LNB]Behrami had been expecting to sign a five-year deal at the beginning of February, despite still having three years of his current deal remaining. He was offered £30,000 a week, still less than half of what some of West Ham's highest earners are paid. [LNB] Wanted: Valon Behrami (left) has become a fan favourite at Upton Park[LNB]The contract wrangle is one of a number of player issues that are said to have left manager Zola considering his own future at West Ham.[LNB]Midfielder Jack Collison, who is still working off a contract agreed before he broke into the team from the youth ranks in 2008, is believed to be entitled to a modest £2,000-a-week pay rise. That, though, has been vetoed. [LNB]Sullivan also hopes to offload erratic striker Alessandro Diamanti, while Guillermo Franco is unlikely to be offered an extention to his deal when it expires at the end of this season.[LNB] Boardroom battle: Zola (left) and David Sullivan have clashed since the former Birmingham chairman took over at West Ham[LNB]There is belief that regardless of the club's ambitions to retain them, Matthew Upson and Robert Green, who is keen to move abroad, will leave in the summer.[LNB]A rift first appeared between manager and chairman last month when Sullivan spoke of the need for players and staff to take a pay cut. He also and questioned whether the manager was 'too nice' or worth his £1.9 million-a-year salary.[LNB]West Ham's debt stands at a whopping £110 million and cost-cutting has seen the departure of Zola's close friend Gianluca Nani, as well as a host of other backroom staff. [LNB]All but nine of the 110 company mobile phones used by staff before January's change of ownership have also been recalled by the club.[LNB] On track! West Ham encouraged to bid for Olympic Stadium by ministerWest Ham v BOLTON: Stuart Holden adds to Owen Coyle's injury woesSportsmail looks at the stars who played again after horrific leg breaksHammered by millions: The costly signings that have crippled West HamFIRING LINE: Three is the not so magic number for Sunderland boss BruceWEST HAM UNITED FC
