Gianfranco Zola likely to be new West Ham manager.

West Ham are likely to offer their vacant managerial position to Gianfranco Zola.

Zola has emerged as the London club's preferred candidate ahead of the former Italy coach Roberto Donadoni and, with personal terms having effectively been agreed, confirmation of his appointment as West Ham's first foreign manager could be made later today.

Zola is currently coaching the Italy Under-21s alongside his former Chelsea team-mate Pierluigi Casiraghi, and has been given a glowing reference by the Italian Football Federation to back up his credentials.

West Ham's board will meet again today and expect to be in a position to offer the job to their favoured candidate - personal terms had been discussed and as good as agreed with both Zola and Donadoni during the interview process - in the hope that Zola will be able to attend the game at the Hawthorns, with the team to be selected by the caretaker manager Kevin Keen.

West Ham are already drawing up tentative plans to unveil the 42-year-old at the Boleyn Ground as early as Thursday ahead of the weekend trip to West Bromwich Albion

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Big Sam Allardyce to manage West Ham?!

Sam Allardyce has been the big mover with Betfred in the market for next permanent West Ham manager as there was plenty of betting support for the former Bolton and Newcastle boss.

But surely if Hammers fans were unhappy with the way their side played under Curbishley there is no way that they'd accept the UGLY FOOTBALL that has been a trademark of all Big Sam's teams?!

Allardyce was up as a 16/1 shot at the start, but is now down to 8/1 after early favourite Slaven Bilic distanced himself from the job with his former club.

Croatia coach Bilic, who opened up as a favourite following Alan Curbishley's resignation, drifted out to the best price on the high street of 10/3 after insisting he is focused on his role in charge of his national team.

Italian duo Paolo Di Canio and Roberto Mancini, who were the subject of good betting on Wednesday, are next in the market at 5/1 and 6/1 respectively, followed by Allardyce and ex-Chelsea manager Avram Grant, another man to have attracted attention from punters.

Betfred founder and chairman Fred Done said: "Big Sam is a surprise choice as the market springer for he doesn't appear to be a natural fit for the West Ham position. All his previous managerial jobs have been in the north and midlands and it's hard to know how the Cockneys would react to him."

"But he has been quite active in the media recently, which could be seen as a way of reminding people in football of his availability. I've certainly taken plenty of money from shrewd sources for Sam and, along with Di Canio, he represents the biggest losing result in our book."

Bilic and Mancini are bet365's 7/2 joint favourites, with Di Canio next best at 6/1 and bet365 spokesman Steve Freeth said: "Bilic seemed to be playing his cards close to his chest when quizzed about the vacancy, whilst Italians Mancini and Di Canio have been very popular."

For betting Odds on West Ham manager market check out these bookmakers :
Bet365, Betfred, PaddyPower

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Alan Curbishley quits as West Ham manager

Alan Curbishley has resigned as manager of West Ham because of a lack of control over transfer policy.

Curbishley offered his resignation on Wednesday and it was quickly accepted by owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson.

A West Ham statement said the club had accepted Curbishley's resignation in the best interests of both parties.

The final straw for the 50-year-old had been the enforced sales of Anton Ferdinand and George McCartney. Curbishley said decisions had been made without involving me, amounting to a breach of trust and confidence meaning I had no option but to leave.

Curbishley added: "The selection of players is critical to the job of manager and I had an agreement with the club that I alone would determine the composition of the squad."

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Can Zamora show West Ham what they lost?

Bobby Zamora looks to be on his way to Fulham and bet365 make him 11/8 to score against his old club next season.

bet365 spokesman Steve Freeth says : "The goals dried up for Zamora towards the end of his West Ham career and he'll be out to prove he can more than fill the boots of the recently departed Brian McBride at Craven Cottage"

2008/9 Bobby Zamora Specials at Bet365

Total Zamora 2008/9 Premiership Goals
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Under 6.5 goals = 5/6 (1.83)
Over 6.5 goals == 5/6 (1.83)

Zamora To Score Against West Ham (in either Premiership game during 2008/9)
(Bets void if Zamora doesn't move to Fulham)
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Yes = 11/8 (2.38)
No == 8/15 (1.53)

2008/9 Premiership Match Bet - Who Will Finish Higher?
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Fulham === 9/4 (3.25)
West Ham = 1/3 (1.33)

Place your bet at Bet365 now

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