HAMMERS TALK: Former Blues midfielder leading contender for Irons role (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

HAMMERS TALK: Former Blues midfielder leading contender for Irons role

8:40am Sunday 7th September 2008 in

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FORMER Chelsea midfielder Gianfranco Zola has emerged as the front-runner for the vacant managerial post at West Ham.

The Italian - who was voted the Blues greatest-ever player by the fans - is said to have impressed the club during an interview for the role.

He is currently joint Italy under-21 coach, but he's time in England is thought to have gone down well during his meeting with Hammers officials in Rome yesterday.

Zola is thought to be neck and neck with fellow Italian Roberto Donadoni for the position, while former Danish international Michael Laudrup is also still in contention.

Slaven Bilic, who would be a popular choice amongst Hammers fans after a one-year spell with the club between 1996-7, is considered to be out of the running after his advisers told West Ham he would not be available until January.

The Croatia coach had been the early favourite.

Other names to have been ruled out of replacing Alan Curbishley include John Collins, Martin Olsen, Harry Redknapp, Stuart Pearce, Roberto Mancini and Gerard Houllier.