West Ham United FC

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Zola urges players to stay

09 Jan 2009 - 07:52:44

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West Ham United manager Gianfranco Zola has appealed to his leading players to remain at Upton Park for the sake of their careers.

The cash-strapped Hammers have been handed a further blow in the shape of a fresh inquiry into their conduct during the Carlos Tevez affair.

On Thursday, the Premier League and the Football Association announced they will launch a fresh inquiry which will centre around the Hammers' conduct after they had been fined £5.5million for irregularities in Tevez's initial registration with the club back in 2006.

The Hammers have already confirmed they will consider offers for any of their players in light of the reported financial difficulties facing chairman Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson.

But Zola hopes he can still persuade the likes of Craig Bellamy and Scott Parker - both of whom have been linked with Manchester City - to remain at Upton Park.

Fellow key players Matthew Upson, Robert Green and Dean Ashton have also been linked with January transfer window departures.

"I know the players have had big offers but on the other hand we believe we are offering them the possibility to improve, to get better and better," said the Italian coach.

"Hopefully our players will see that and consider it.

"The club is determined to keep the best players because we want to take the team to a better level.

"Sometimes you have to accept certain things but at the moment we are determined to do this.

"We want to keep our players. We have targets to achieve and we know if we want to achieve them, then we have to keep our best players. We hope we can keep them."

Meanwhile, Zola has admitted that both Calum Davenport and Lee Bowyer are likely to follow Matthew Etherington out of the exit door.

Etherington joined Stoke City on Thursday, while Davenport is considering an offer from Bolton Wanderers and former England midfielder Bowyer has been approached by an unnamed club.