BBC.co.uk
West Ham are "very close" to being bought by former Birmingham City owners
David Gold and David Sullivan, BBC Sport understands. The duo are thought to
be favourites ahead of Lotus F1 chief Tony Fernandes. Finance firm
Intermarket and Italian Massimo Cellino are the other known interested
parties. "It has been a real saga but Gold and Sullivan, I understand, are
the real front-runners now," said 5 live's senior football reporter Ian
Dennis. "At one stage or another they've all been touted as being favourites
to take over at West Ham but I understand that Gold and Sullivan are very,
very close now to moving in. "It will be a relief, not only to the
supporters but also to [manager] Gianfranco Zola, so that they can now
concentrate on on-the-field matters."
The club are currently owned by CB Holding, which has indicated West Ham are
£38m in debt. The main shareholder in CB Holding is Icelandic bank Straumur,
which has previously said it was in no hurry to sell the club - although
that was before the various bidders became known. West Ham have effectively
suspended any activity in the January transfer window until the takeover
situation is resolved. Dennis added: "My understanding is that they don't
have to sell in the transfer window. There have been rumours about Scott
Parker maybe moving on but if the takeover happens sooner rather than later
I don't think there will be any departures from Upton Park."
Hammers boss Zola, whose future may hinge on which bid wins, acknowledged
the situation was frustrating. "These players, this team, they deserve to
be helped. Stability for the club would be massive," he said after a 0-0
draw at Aston Villa on Sunday lifted his side out of the Premier League
relegation zone. "Right now we can't do anything we just have to wait for
something to happen with the club. Once we know where the club is going,
then we have a chance."
The Italian indicated that he hoped the takeover would be resolved on
Monday.
The interested parties:
Tony Fernandes - Boss of Air Asia and the revived Lotus F1 team. An Upton
Park regular for many years, he is likely to support Zola but has he proved
to have the money readily available?
David Gold/David Sullivan - Former Birmingham City owners have been
determined suitors of the Hammers for several months. They once held shares
in the club and boast the liquid assets required.
Intermarket - Finance firm based in London's Canary Wharf, made money with
the FX currency exchange business. Ex-West Ham striker Tony Cottee is an
adviser but chief executive Jim Bowe died in America earlier in January.
Massimo Cellino - The president of Serie A club Cagilari emerged as a
potential late bidder last week and there were even reports in Italy he had
secured a deal but these proved premature.
Former Chelsea favourite Zola, and assistant Steve Clarke, took the
managerial reins at West Ham in September 2008 after Alan Curbishley's
departure. The pair guided West Ham to ninth in the table after a sticky
start. West Ham are currently 16th in a season that has been plagued by
injuries and off-the-field distractions. I know I can do this job but you
always have to prove yourself every day," said Zola on Friday. "I am not
going to go to anyone and say 'look, I am doing well'. The results do the
talking. If what I am doing is not good enough on the pitch it is right they
change."
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Sullivan-Gold consortium "would not sack Zola"
By Harry Harris, Football Correspondent
ESPN
January 18, 2010
Gianfranco Zola will be given a chance to prove himself with the new owners
if David Sullivan and David Gold can beat other suitors to the punch in
buying West Ham in the next 24 hours. But how long Zola would be given would
largely depend on results as the Hammers fight a relegation battle. Contrary
to widespread reports Zola isn't facing the axe if the former Birmingham
owners win control of the East End club. They face competition from Air Asia
owner Tony Fernandez and Cagliari president Massimo Cellini. An insider told
Soccernet on Monday evening: "We've read the reports that David Sullivan and
David Gold would sack Gianfranco Zola and replace him with Mark Hughes, but
that is not necessarily the case. "They would look upon Zola as a totally
unproven manager, but would want to give him some time to show them what he
can do or can't do. Remember they sacked only two managers in 17 years at
Birmingham, and properly regretted not giving Barry Fry a further year.
"Everyone is still waiting to hear and frustrations are growing as the
process is dragging on much longer than the interested parties wanted with
now only 12 days left in the January transfer window. The delay cannot be
good for West ham. "There are players being lined up, but if a new owner
wanted a foreign player than it would take time applying for work permits,
and time is running out. Everyone thought it would be sorted out on Friday,
then again tonight (Monday), but it is only a matter of time. "One of the
main problems is that it is now all tied up with the lawyers and the bank
syndicates. The offers on the table are to buy 50 per cent of the club but
any new owner would want some of these restrictions the banks currently have
to be lifted otherwise it might prove impossible to run the club properly.
"As it stands, and it could change at any minute, there is still nothing
much to choose between the offers of David Sullivan and David gold and Tony
Fernandez, and it still appears to be neck and neck between the two,
although it is quite possible there could be a third serious bid on the
table, or one could emerge."
The decision on the Hammers' future is expected imminently, and with the
transfer deadline approaching, the winning bidder will likely expect to have
to move quickly at a club still heavily in relegation trouble.
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Sign the KEEP ZOLA Petition
West Ham Till I Die
I'm really worried by all the rumours about Gianfranco Zola's future, or
possibly lack of it, at West Ham if we get new owners this week. I think it
is important that we fans make our views known. Gianfranco Zola has done a
brilliant job at West Ham in the circumstances and I cannot believe there
are many people who wish to see the back of him and his assistant, Steve
Clarke.
If you agree with me, please sign an online petition I have created which,
if enough people sign it, will go some way to demonstrating to the new
owners that we wish them to retain the services of Zola and Clarke. Forward
the details of the petition to your friends and get them to sign it too.
Click here to sign it : http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/zola/
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