WEST HAM co-owner David Sullivan has ruled out an approach for club legend Paolo Di Canio for the vacant manager's job.

Sullivan, who sacked Avram Grant after the Hammers' relegation to the Championship at Wigan on Sunday, admitted appointing the popular Italian would be a decision made with the heart and not the head.

He told Sky Sports News: “The problem with Paolo is, although the fans would love it, I'm being realistic and he has no experience whatsoever being a manager.

“If you look at first-season managers the failure rate is enormous.

“If he'd done a season anywhere and was, say, top of Serie B in Italy with a team, I'd take the chance.

“My heart would say Paolo and the fans would say Paolo.

“But with someone who's a complete novice as a manager, with no experience, you just can't go with it.”