West Ham Prepare to Hire Zola and Extend Chelsea Connection

West Ham United expect to announce the appointment of Gianfranco Zola as their manager today, with the Italian prepared to add to the contingent of former Chelsea players at Upton Park by considering appointing either Steve Clarke or Pierluigi Casiraghi as his assistant.

West Ham held "constructive talks" with Zola's representatives yesterday but with Italy Under-21s involved in a crucial qualifying game in Croatia last night - he currently assists Casiraghi, manager of the Azzurri's junior set-up - West Ham were conscious that no formal announcement should be made before the game. They anticipate a positive response from Zola today and all being well, will unveil him at Upton Park tomorrow afternoon.

Any West Ham supporters unnerved at the prospect of the man voted Chelsea's greatest ever player taking charge may be just as concerned by the thought of him luring one of his former Stamford Bridge team-mates across the capital with him. Casiraghi's career in west London was brief, his spell at the club encompassing 10 games and one goal before it was ended by a knee injury sustained against West Ham in 1998. He has worked closely since with Zola and the Italy Under-21s, though it is unclear whether the Azzurri intended to retain him within the national set-up beyond the current campaign.

Clarke was a Chelsea stalwart, the full-back featuring 330 times for the club and following a brief stint as assistant manager to Ruud Gullit at Newcastle United, has worked under Claudio Ranieri, Jose Mourinho, Avram Grant and now Luiz Felipe Scolari at Stamford Bridge. The Brazilian retained him as first-team coach in the summer to maintain some continuity, and it remains to be seen whether Clarke would be tempted to cross to east London - the Scot is aware that West Ham's fans may be hostile to his arrival - and take up similar duties at Upton Park.

Zola will decide upon his back room staff over the next few days, but he is expected to retain the current caretaker manager Kevin Keen. The Italian received very public backing from his former Chelsea team-mate John Terry last night, though the England captain's comments will do little to reassure West Ham fans. "It will be great for Gianfranco, and maybe Gigi [Casiraghi], to take the job," he said. "Hopefully he will get the experience to one day become Chelsea manager."

Roberto Donadoni, the other candidate on West Ham's shortlist, formally withdrew from the contest yesterday once it became clear that Zola was first choice.