Gianfranco Zola has been told that his job is safe - for as long as continues to deliver results.
Zola, who takes his team to bottom club Portsmouth tomorrow night for what will be West Ham's first outing since the club was (semi) purchased by David's Sullivan and Gold has been given the full backing of the club's new owners, despite United's current league position.Joint Chairman David Gold, speaking this morning revealed that Zola had been told that he is the man to lead the club forward, adding that he had been impressed by the Italian's reaction to the part-takeover.
"My relationship with him already - and I've only met him three times - I'm finding him very comfortable to work with, he's very measured," Gold told Five Live. "But managers are judged by performance, by results - we're all aware of that.
"I've alluded to the relationship between the manager and the principles of the football club - and I can tell you that's excellent already. His ability with the media - I think he comes over as a very accessible person, I think he delivers himself very well through TV and radio and I think that's very good as well because it embraces the fans.
"I'm a patient person. I will at all times - and I'm sure I'm speaking for David Sullivan as well - put West Ham United Football Club ahead of everything. I think that Gianfranco Zola will make an exceptional manager, given time.
"I can't see any reason why that would not be the case. But how far do you go ahead? You might ask me whether I see him with us in ten years time, to which I'd say 'I hope so'."
Zola, whose own difficulties seem almost trivial in comparison to those of current Pompey boss Avram Grant could welcome Carlton Cole back into the squad for what will be the first of a string of crucial fixtures against teams in the lower half of the current Premier League table.
Following tomorrow night's trip to the south coast the Irons face Blackburn (h), Burnley (a), Birmingham (h) and Hull (h). A fifth potential clash with Wolves scheduled for 2nd February has however been postponed - again - as Wolves' FA Cup clash with Crystal Palace finished 2-2 and will therefore require a replay on the night of the rescheduled fixture with West Ham, which was dependent on a result in the Cup match.
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