West Ham Shortlist 2: Bilic and Zola
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Alan Curbishley has become the first managerial casualty of the new Premier League season, leaving West Ham after just four games of the campaign.
Despite beating Wigan and Blackburn in the league, and defeating Macclesfield to progress in the Carling Cup, tensions over the club’s transfer policy have seemingly led to the manager’s departure.
Curbishley was reportedly angered by the decision to sell Anton Ferdinand and then saw George McCartney also join Sunderland on transfer deadline day, without a replacement arriving.
The former Charlton boss was further targeted by Hammers fans recently and has now opted to step down from his job at Upton Park.
A club statement read: "We can confirm that we have accepted Alan Curbishley's resignation as we feel it is in the best interests of both parties.
"We wish Alan all the success in the future. A shortlist of candidates is being drawn up and an announcement will be made in due course about the new West Ham United manager."
Curbishley was appointed to the role in December 2006 and memorably led the East London side to safety when relegation looked a distinct possibility in his first season.
The Hammers finished tenth last term despite suffering from a debilitating run of injuries but concerns over the club's style of play meant supporters never warmed to him.
Croatia manager and former Hammers favourite Slaven Bilic is now likely to feature prominently on bookies' shortlists to take over at Upton Park.
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wah piang eh..
first Kev.. then Curbs..
what next?
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Originally posted by the Bear:
wah piang eh..
first Kev.. then Curbs..
what next?
Actually Curbishley is first , Kev still in "talks".
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Bilic installed as favourite for vacant Hammers role
Bookmakers William Hill have installed Slaven Bilic as favourite to land the vacant West Ham manager's role.
Alan Curbishley sensationally quit his role as Irons chief earlier today.
And the talk around who will be his replacement is already doing the rounds.
Croatia boss Bilic - who played for the club between 1996-7 and was a crowd favourite - is 3/1 to succeed Curbishley, although he has apparently ruled himself out of the job.
Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp, who managed the club between 1994 and 2001, is second favourite at 6/1, followed by Sam Allardyce at 8/1 and current England under-21 boss Stuart Pearce at 10/1.
Hammers legend Paolo Di Canio is also an outsider at 14/1, while another legend, Sir Trevor Brooking, seems a far bet at 40/1.
West Ham have confirmed that they will be drawing up a shortlist of candidates for the role.
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ah ben ah ben ah ben ah ben~
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benitez is next
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Whos NEXT? YOUR NEXT!
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KTB
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Hammers confirm four-name shortlist
West Ham have confirmed four names are in the frame to be their new boss - Slaven Bilic, Gianfranco Zola, Roberto Donadoni and Michael Laudrup.
Hammers director Mike Lee said that both Zola and Donadoni had impressed hugely in their interviews, while Laudrup will meet club officials on Monday.
Lee also made it clear that West Ham would not wait until January for Bilic, though he did not rule out him staying as Croatia coach on a part-time basis for the October matches.
Lee told BBC Radio Five Live: "There's no favourite at the moment, we have set up a proper selection process.
"We have been surprised and pleased by the number of applications we have had and we are moving towards a short shortlist and ideally have a manager in place in time for the West Brom match next week.
"Slaven Bilic could potentially be on that shortlist but it depends very much upon his availability. If for whatever reason he was not available until January in terms of working with us I'm afraid that will rule him out.
"We have a very strong shortlist and it's going to be a tough decision with some exciting candidates.
"From the meetings that have taken place so far the two that have really shone have been Donadoni and Zola."
West Ham are resigned to waiting until after Croatia's match against England on Wednesday before they can speak to Bilic, but would welcome the chance to talk beforehand and have been in discussions with his representatives.
The fact Zola and Donadoni are Italians could increase their chances given that West Ham's director of football Gianluca Nani is a compatriot, and that they would be much happier with the continental-style working relationship than Alan Curbishley was.
West Ham's selection process has already ruled out Gerard Houllier and the former Scotland midfielder John Collins, plus former Ajax boss Martin Olsen.
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lol zola..
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Laudrup out of Hammers race
Michael Laudrup is out of the running for the vacant manager's job at West Ham after agreeing to take over at Spartak Moscow.
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Donadoni rules himself out
Roberto Donadoni has officially ruled himself out of the running for the vacant managerial post at West Ham.
"I would like to thank West Ham United Football Club for approaching and speaking with me in relation to the vacant manager's position at the club," said Donadoni.
"I welcomed the opportunity of speaking with such a prominent Premiership club and of course, the opportunity of coming to the English Premiership.
"However, is does appear that the board have not yet, after some time, come to an agreement and a conclusion on who the successful candidate should be.
"It is important for me to feel that I have the full support of the club and I have therefore this morning taken the decision to withdraw myself from the candidate shortlist for the club."