Speculation over the future of popular Hammers manager Gianfranco Zola has dominated talk of West Ham since they successfully avoided relegation last weekend.

Their 3-2 Upton Park victory over Wigan, secured by a spectacular goal from the season’s one bright spark Scott Parker, left them six points clear of third-bottom Hull City with two EPL fixtures remaining.

And with their goal difference superior by 23 goals, it would take an arithmetical freak for the Hammers to be overhauled.

Since then, co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold have typically grabbed the newspaper column inches, with seemingly conflicting views on whether the 43-year-old Sardinian has a future at Upton Park.

 

The players’ view was made clear by the reaction to their winning goal against Wigan, as Zola was the first port of call for the celebrations after Scott Parker’s toe-poke arrowed into the net from 25 yards with thirteen minutes remaining.

The Hammers recovered from the hammer blow of an early Jonathan Spector own goal to lead 2-1 at half-time, thanks to goals from Ilan and Radoslav Kovac.

Hugo Rodallega bundled home an equaliser for the Latics early in the second half, but there was no coming back from Parker’s wonder strike.

Co-owner, former pornographer David Sullivan, responded to the victory with a statement interpreted as putting the entire West Ham squad up for sale apart from Parker.

However, for once, his actual words were less emotive: “Other than Scott Parker, there isn’t a player we wouldn’t sell if it was the right bid,” he said. But he added: “We will be buying more than we are selling.”

On Zola, however, Sullivan noted “No decision has been made. He did indicate he might resign at the end of the season but he might have changed his mind.”

It would be financially beneficial to West Ham for Zola to resign rather than be dismissed with two years left on his £1.9m-per-year contract.

Gold, meanwhile, told the Daily Express newspaper after the Wigan victory that he “would hope Franco stays.”

He said: “It has been a very difficult season for him; he has been through hell and back. But now he knows he is part of West Ham and he deserves another crack.”

The Hammers have made a £4m offer to recently re-promoted West Bromwich Albion midfielder Graham Dorrans.

The written offer for the talented 22-year-old was immediately rejected by Baggies chairman Jeremy Peace who said: “I want to make it clear again that Graham Dorrans is not for sale.”

West Ham visit Fulham on Sunday, with David Gold in rare apologetic mood for complaints he made at the start of April over Fulham team selection policy.

With the Hammers and Hull still locked in a relegation battle, and Fulham in the midst of their Europa League campaign, West Ham formally complained to the EPL about the Cottagers selection of a weakened team for their visit to the KC Stadium.

But this week, Gold apologised saying: “We were upset and probably acted in haste.”