Armageddon if Hammers go down

By:Ian
2010-02-10

Whisper it quietly, but if you have a free bet or two in a bookmaking account somewhere, or you fancy a bit of a long term flutter on something and you are looking for good value and good odds, then get your money on West Ham United being in the Championship next season.

Chairman David Sullivan has already claimed that the club are heading for “Armageddon” due to the financial problems at the club and the threat of relegation.

However, what Sullivan fails to realise is that despite his stated aims of steering the club away from such a doomsday scenario, his actions may well contribute directly towards it.

Sullivan has been lambasted by West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola on the eve of their huge league clash with Birmingham City at Upton Park. Zola was responding to an article in the Sun newspaper where Gold claimed that;

"It'll be Armageddon if we go down. It'll be worse than what's gone on at Newcastle.

"I can't believe the contracts I've inherited. Every position is overpaid, whether in administration or on the playing side.

"All are earning more than they would at other clubs.”
Sullivan then commented on likeable Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola, who is said to be earning £2m a year, stating;

"Of all the managers I've dealt with he is the nicest. The question is 'Is he too nice?' Ossie Ardiles was the nicest guy you could meet but look what he did to Tottenham.

"Time will tell. Zola will prove himself over the next few games.

"I still don't regret taking over. If we get relegated I would. We'd have to sell half the team.

"Normally you don't have the debt we've inherited or the wage bill we've inherited.

Sullivans comments have incensed the normally mild manner Zola who was clearly furious with the comments attributed to his chairman.

Zola stated : “They can talk about players as much as they want.

“But when an article comes out before a match like this match, I’m not happy. I don’t think it’s any good for the whole team, I haven’t spoken to them about it. I just read the article... It might have been better to talk to us first before talking to a newspaper.”

Zola seemed incensed that his reported salary and the fact he appears “too nice” were issued raised by Sullivan in the article.

“I’m not here for the money.” blasted Zola “When I signed a contract, I didn’t even know how much I was going to earn. I came here because I had a plan and a project and liked what I was going to do. Then the club proposed a new contract.”
He added : “If you want me to be horrible, I can be horrible.

“Yet if I treat people with respect, they give you 100 per cent. I have seen people being horrible to others and they receive nothing. I stick to my philosophy and this won’t change it.”

“I am a person with principle and won’t allow anybody to walk over my principles or my person. I hope that gives you an idea.”

It is well known that Sullivan and co-owenr David Gold are firm admirers of out of work Mark Hughes and it seems that this ill-judged piece seems to have achieved its aim in riling the manager. Although if Gold believed it was an attempt to bring the West Ham support to his line of thinking, he is going to be sadly mistaken.

Sadly for the Hammers, the divide has been drawn. With the chairman openly criticising players and the manager, the manager biting back at the chairman, there can only be one result of this and that will inevitably be the manager receiving the sack.

Gold and Sullivan may get Mark Hughes. But by then it may all be too late.

Which is why my money is on West Ham being in the Championship next season. Their fans don’t deserve it, their current manager doesn’t deserve it. But I think it will be fitting welcome for the new chairman who has torn up the traditions of this proud and respectful club and instead sought to make his gripes known in the most public and counter-productive way possible.