West Ham agree Zola deal and Steve Clarke leaves
West Ham have reached a settlement with ex-manager Gianfranco Zola while assistant manager Steve Clarke has left the club.
Zola was dismissed days after the end of a season which saw the Hammers flirt with relegation, and initially the club seemed reluctant to pay up the remaining three years on his contract.
It left them facing another court battle with an ex-manager, after Alan Curbishley successfully sued the club last year for constructive dismissal, but a settlement was reached with the help of the League Managers Association.
The club issued a statement this afternoon, which said: "West Ham would like to thank Gianfranco Zola for his efforts during his time with the club.
"We would like to thank both him and the LMA for their professionalism in reaching a satisfactory settlement and we wish Gianfranco well for the future."
Zola said: "I thoroughly enjoyed my time at West Ham United and I will always be very grateful to the club for giving me the opportunity to manage in the Barclays Premier League, especially at a club with such a great tradition in positive and attractive football.
"I would like to offer my sincere thanks to all of the players, staff and fans who supported me so well during my time at the club, and I wish them every success for the future.
"I am looking forward to finding a new challenge in the game and returning to management as soon as possible."
Clarke, meanwhile, has left Upton Park by mutual consent after almost two years with the Irons. His days were numbered following Zola's dismissal last month.
The Scotsman, who was previously at Chelsea, was highly rated when he joined the club in September 2008, but things didn't work out for him and Zola as West Ham struggled.
He said: "I have enjoyed my time at West Ham. I was looking for a fresh challenge in football before I arrived and I certainly got that.
"It was a good experience which will help me in the future. I would particularly like to thank the fans for all their support and the players and staff for their efforts.
"I will follow the club's progress with interest and I am sure, with the new stability off the pitch, that the team will have every opportunity to do well next season."
Meanwhile new manager Avram Grant had his first official day in charge today following the granting of his work permit on Tuesday.
The Israeli visited the club's Chadwell Heath training ground to run the rule over the facilities as he plans the Irons' pre-season training.
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