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Gianfranco Zola reacted with anger today at suggestions from new owner David Sullivan that the West Ham manager and his first-team squad are going to be faced with a pay-cut at the end of the season.
Sullivan, who bought the club with David Gold last month, fears “Armageddon” if West Ham are relegated from the Premier League as they have debts of more than £110million.
And even if they survive the drop, Zola and his players have been told to expect cuts in their salaries.
“I can't believe the contracts I've inherited,” Sullivan said today. “Every position is overpaid, whether in administration or on the playing side.
“Everyone at the club will be asked to take a salary cut in the summer.
“The club is in a mess and we all have to pull together. If we go down I can't even consider the situation.”
But boss Zola is unhappy that Sullivan has spoken so openly ahead of a crucial match with Birmingham City at Upton Park tomorrow night.
The Hammers currently lie third bottom of the Premier League, a point behind Bolton.
Zola said: “The article [by Sullivan] should have been done at a different time instead of just before a match like tomorrow's.
“It would have been better to say what was said at another time and, maybe, talk to us [the players and staff] before the newspapers.”
He added: “I am not happy about it, I don't think it does any good for the team.”
The Italian also insisted that he and his players — amongst whom Scott Parker and Kieron Dyer are reported to earn £65,000-a-week and Matthew Upson (£60,000) — are not purely motivated by money.
He added: “Personally, I am not here for the money. When I first joined the club in 2008, I did not know how much I was going to earn. I came here for the plan and a project.
“After a while, the club offered me a new contract and it was not about money, I was working for something positive.”
Zola would now appear to be on collision course with Sullivan and Gold who have made it their intention to cut costs at the club since they arrived in east London.
It may ultimately end up costing him his job, but the 43-year-old Italian insisted he would remain true to his values.
Zola said: “I have principles, I won't allow people to walk over me.”
Reader views (16)
Three Strikers have joined WEST HAM UNITED for the rest of this season. With the possible/probable departure of Gianluca Nani. Will this mean were likely to see less of the Player's brought in during Nani's time at Upton Park?.
I personally think that while Goals have'nt been too frequent. Alesandro Diamanti and Guilermo Franco are the type of Player's WHUFC need. It would be wrong not to Play Player's just because they were brought into the Team by someone the Owner's dont approve of.
- Paul, Deptford, London., 10/02/2010 17:02
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Eddie - the second anyone has a go at the West Ham fans they get caned. Brown, Roeder, Curbishley...seriously, the second any of them had even the slightest pop they were doomed.
I'm starting to see a little bit of what the Brum fans said about these two now. They seem to want more press time than Arry (which is inconceivable in reality).
However, it's not like Steve Bruce did not have millions upon millions to spend when he was there, and it's not like their record signing didn't cost £4mill more than ours did. And it's not like they wound up "doing a Portsmouth", which if the printed facts are to be believed, we very nearly did.
Despite the stupidity of the comments and the jackets and the beard (which makes me feel ill) and the non-stop banging on...we kept our main players in January, we signed three forwards, and we have got to give them a chance.
- Stu, Beckton, 10/02/2010 12:01
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sullivan and gold do not come across as genuine club men as zola does, why was the club sold to them when as stated here there are more wealthy, ambitious buyers???
what exactly is their game???
- Ana, London, 10/02/2010 11:20
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Clearly the powers that be have made a very bad decision in selling the club to Gold and Sullivan when there were more prosperous buyers available who were willing to turn the club into a powerhouse, already they are going the Glazer route by asking for financial assistance from outsiders, then on top of this by asking everyone in the club to take a pay cut they are in effect going to end up with 3rd rate players as the better players will ask for a transfer, its almost as if they expect to be relegated, BIG BIG mistake to sell the club to these two.
- Robert, London, 10/02/2010 09:25
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I think the West Ham fans have got what they wished for and probably no more than they deserve, a couple of wide-boys' with a few bob. Clearly Gold and Sullivan aren't as smart as they would have people think, but then again, relegation is probably part of their business plan, so good luck to Zola and all the players in their new and next over paid posts...
- Murph, Kent, Kent, 09/02/2010 23:39
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As a Birmingham fan I knew it wouldn't be long before sullivan's comments will start winding up the manager/fans. Hammers fans get used to it!
If you do get relegated sullivan will go on and on about the previous icelandic regime and tell u how grateful you should be that he took over. He will say stuff like Upton Mark would've been turned into tescos with out his takeover. Mark My words!
- John, Barking, 09/02/2010 21:14
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i agree with gold and sullivan...........those two so called barrow boys are supporting a zola salary of nearly 2 million a year and ( can you believe ???!!!) a steve clarke salary of 1.1 million ( double the manchester united assisant manager!).....if money is not a motivating factor for zola why not show leadership for a club in financial crisis----agree with your chairman and take a salary cut..
- Peter From Green Street, london england, 09/02/2010 18:54
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Can't disagree with Zola here. What purpose does Sullivan think releasing his thoughts through the Sun actually serves? It's illogical. It's like the guy is simply trying to get on the back pages with comments like that. If you do need to cut every single wage (something I find unlikely) then have the decency to tell the staff first before you announce such nonsense via the Sun. It's idiotic.
- Adam, London, 09/02/2010 17:43
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With Sullivan's trademark motivational team talks (with impeccable timing), and Gold's 'I want us to whack em' comments, Big Eck won't be needing to say much to the Blues team tomorrow. You West Ham fans will soon discover that whilst Gold & Sullivan will put you on a sound financial footing (eventually), the quid pro quo is appalling football, sky high prices for everything and alienation of the supporters/players/managers. KRO
- Neil The Bluenose, Birmingham, 09/02/2010 17:23
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Zola is absolutely right. The timing of this is appalling and Sullivan has shown a complete lack of class with this latest outburst; sadly, it's not the first time he has done so since the takeover. Zola is a man of pride and great integrity and he has every right to feel aggrieved by this.
Sullivan has not stopped complaining about the clubs finances since he took over. Everybody knows that the club is in a poor financial position but Sullivan and Gold would have carried out due diligence and known exactly what the situation was; if it's too much for them, they shouldn't have bought into the club. Simple.
It all makes one wonder if Sullivan has an agenda that he is not declaring. West Ham fans are not stupid, and I think I can say the majority are firmly behind Zola. They will see through Sullivan's spin. So far he has done absolutely nothing to endear himself to the fans. David Sullivan, button it please and just get on with the job in hand, or sell up and go away.
- Andrew, London, 09/02/2010 17:22
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zola you wait till he starts and selling the players behind your back..and than he has a go at the fans .we are glad to see the back of them
- Eddie, birmingham uk, 09/02/2010 17:14
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Zola should resign and let West Ham go the way of Portsmouth. If Sullivan wanted to run a club on the cheap, he should have gone shopping in the Conference.
- John Buckeridge, London, 09/02/2010 17:04
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Good luck to Sullivan and Gold, guys who are putting up their own money and trying to inject some sanity into football finances - though they are unlikely to succeed.
- Charlie, Maidstone, England, 09/02/2010 16:45
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Zola is clearly looking for a payout with a statement like this. West ham are going to lose tomorrow and that will be 4th MUST WIN game in a row that we have not won. I fear that we wont get anyone better in tho.
- Goals Aloud, LONDON ENGERLAND, 09/02/2010 16:26
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For once I agree with Zola, as I wish Mr. Sullivan would be quiet for 5 minutes and keep things "in house" until after this vital game, at the least. He can't seem to keep his mouth shut since the takeover.
Nothing less than 3 points tomorrow for the Hammers will do so come on Zola and get the team winning again please!
- Colm Gallagher, Dublin, 09/02/2010 16:23
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Quote: Zola said: “I have principles, I won't allow people to walk over me.”
Quiet right Gianfranco, always keep your pride and principles, money cannot buy those things if you do not have them to start with.
Gold and Sullivan knew what they were buying; as they are barrow boys by nature.
Let’s hope West Ham players do not have to wear Ann Summers night dresses for next season’s games.
- Mickinlondon, london, 09/02/2010 15:56
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