Zola’s job is safe, insists owner Gold
WEST HAM co-owner David Gold has told manager Gianfranco Zola that his job is still “safe”, despite Monday’s humiliating 3-1 home defeat to Wolves pushing the Hammers closer to relegation.
Gold yesterday backed Zola to steer the club away from what he called “the abyss”, but stopped short of offering the Italian any long-term assurances over his future.
Defeat to fellow strugglers Wolves has left West Ham three points off the bottom three with seven games left, and prompted an angry reaction from some Hammers fans.
Asked whether Zola’s job remained safe, Gold said: “That is still the case. I had a chat with Franco after the game. Of course he’s disappointed, we’re all disappointed. We’re in real difficulties right now.”
West Ham have debts of around £100m and can ill afford the severe drop in revenue brought about by relegation.
“You’re looking at the abyss,” Gold added. “But I’d rather be West Ham than Portsmouth, Hull and Burnley. I would say that we still have a marginal edge over our competitors. But yes, I think we will stay up.”