Soccer: Zola realistic about job

Gianfranco Zola's job as West Ham United manager looked increasingly insecure yesterday as sources close to Massimo Cellino, the club's most recent suitor, claimed a takeover is "99.98 per cent" certain to go ahead.

They say the first thing the 53-year-old president of Serie A club Cagliari would do if his bid is accepted is to sack Zola and his assistant, Steve Clarke, and bring in fellow Italian Daniele Arrigoni.

Cellino's advisers believe an agreement could be made this weekend with West Ham's owners CB Holdings and an immediate change in manager.

Cellino faces stiff competition from former Birmingham City owners David Gold and David Sullivan, Malaysian entrepreneur Tony Fernandes and London-based Intermarket Group. CB Holdings values West Ham at around £100 million ($220 million).

Cellino is understood to be unconvinced by Zola's performance as manager at West Ham, who visit Aston Villa tonight just above the Premier League's relegation places.

Cellino has a reputation for being ruthless and, as Cagliari owner, has seen 22 coaches in 18 years.

Yet Arrigoni has achieved only limited success, having managed nine clubs in Italy with moderate results, including a spell under Cellino at Cagliari in 2004-05, when one of his players was Zola. Arrigoni has been out of work since November 2008 when he was sacked by Bologna.

Zola admits his future is uncertain. "I can only focus on the things that are under my control. This is not under my control."

Cellino has to overcome several obstacles before he can become West Ham's owner. First he must demonstrate to merchant banker Rothschild, which is screening potential bidders, that he has sufficient funds. Then he must convince CB Holdings to sell to him.

He must also pass the Premier League's "fit and proper person test", which may depend on the league's interpretation of Cellino's past dealings with the Italian justice system.

Cellino was accused of defrauding the European Union over a contract to ship grain to developing countries.

The case ended in 2000 with a plea bargain, which under Italian law is not necessarily an admission of guilt.

Cellino said yesterday he hoped the deal could be completed shortly. "I thought I would have closed everything previously, as I showed that my offer was a serious one."

Meanwhile, West Ham have been fined £115,000 ($254,731) by the Football Association for a pitch invasion by their fans in a League Cup tie against Millwall last August.

The FA said: "The club has been fined the sum of £115,000 and ordered to pay adjusted costs of £5000 for the failure to ensure their supporters refrained from violent, threatening, obscene and provocative behaviour and the failure to ensure their supporters did not enter the field of play."

West Ham and Millwall were both charged following the ugly scenes which involved two pitch invasions by West Ham fans and violence before and during the game which West Ham won 3-1 in extra time.

One Millwall fan was stabbed and there were dozens of arrests after running battles broke out near a local railway station.

Millwall were cleared of the charges, a decision welcomed by club chief executive Andy Ambler.

"Millwall FC welcomes the verdict in respect of our club as we have always maintained that we were innocent of the charges."

West Ham have 14 days to appeal.

- INDEPENDENT