West Ham have announced manager Gianfranco Zola has been sacked following a meeting with the owners and board earlier today, Tuesday (Check out the latest football betting markets).

A statement from West Ham read: “West Ham United confirm that they have terminated the contract of Gianfranco Zola.

“The board of directors would like to thank him for his contribution and wish him well for the future.

“The club will now be focusing its efforts on seeking a replacement. The club will be making no further comment on this matter.”

The former Chelsea star, known as ‘Magic Box’ in his days as a player, had been at the club for less than two years having taken over from Alan Curbishley in September 2008.

West Ham was Zola’’s first managerial role but his position quickly came under scrutiny following the takeover by former Birmingham owners David Sullivan and David Gold in January 2010.

Sullivan in particular has been heavily critical of the team’s performances in the latter half of the season, at one point he branded the Hammers ‘pathetic’ following defeat by Wolves.  However, despite the off-field tensions Zola successfully helped West Ham avoid relegation from the Premier League after a difficult campaign for the east London side.

Speculation increased that Zola was set to depart West Ham following their final day of the season draw with Manchester City at Upton Park.  The 43-year-old’’s match programme notes seemed to suggest he was saying his goodbyes to the Hammers faithful, who enjoyed a good relationship with Zola, although Sullivan’s comments were perhaps more telling.

“The current management and team know that what they have delivered was below the expectations at the start of the season and we simply have to do better next season,” wrote Sullivan in what was hardly a ringing endorsement of Zola at a time when speculation surrounding his position had intensified.

As the season drew to a close a number of names were linked with the manager’’s job at Upton Park and speculation is bound to increase now Zola has been axed.  Portsmouth boss Avram Grant and former Hammers boss Curbishley have been mooted as possible replacements for Zola, while Croatia boss Slaven Bilic, a former West Ham player, has also emerged as a contender to take over.

Grant is the early favourite, although the Pompey boss will not make any decision before Portsmouth’’s FA Cup final date with Chelsea on Saturday.

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