West Ham Close in on Zola

Gianfranco Zola has agreed a three-year deal to become West Ham's new manager.

Senior club sources have confirmed that the 42-year-old Italian will fly in to London tomorrow to sign his contract. The Hammers are confident that the former Chelsea star will be formally unveiled at a news conference before the weekend.

His backroom staff will be announced tomorrow and it can been revealed that caretaker boss Kevin Keen will continue on the coaching staff - but ex-Hammers striker Paolo di Canio is not part of Zola's plans.

Zola spent this morning speaking to the Italian FA about being released from his contract as joint coach to the Italy under-21 side. His lawyer was at Upton Park agreeing the contract and all the details have been settled to both sides' satisfaction.

Steve Clarke, the Scot who is currently assistant to Luiz Felipe Scolari at Chelsea, has been linked with a move to becoming Zola's assistant manager - they know each other well from Zola's time there.

So too has Pierluigi Casiraghi, his fellow joint coach of the Italy under-21 side, but he has cast doubt on that saying: "If Gianfranco decides to go to England, I will lose a great coach and more importantly, a true friend. But I don't want to leave this national team."

Zola has already revealed he is committed to a philosophy which will excite the Hammers fans. He said: "I only know one way to play: on the floor, attacking football, the way things should be done. I want to excite people, that is why we play isn't it?"

He also urged West Ham fans to cast aside his links with Chelsea after he admitted the chance to manage the east London club was one he could not resist. "I know there is a rivalry between Chelsea and West Ham, but that is not a problem. My playing career is my past," Zola added.

"This is a new adventure for me. I spent seven years at Chelsea and they were seven of the best years of my career, I loved playing there but the fans must understand that I have a new career now and my playing career is in the past."