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Zola heads to Italy before deciding on his future

Gianfranco Zola has given his team time off © Getty Images

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Gianfranco Zola has headed back home to Italy for three days pondering his future having given his drained players a rest, as they are exhausted by the threat of relegation after six straight defeats.

An Italian source close to Zola told Soccernet: "Franco might decide that he's had enough, we don't know. The new owners have taken away the mobile phones - apart from Zola and his staff, taken away the players' image rights, said they should be paid 25% less if they are relegated, but in Italy there are owners that make Sullivan and Gold look like Mother Teresa.

"It's the English players who are not used to this kind of behaviour, and while the club were going downwards, they have made it even worse, and that is what Zola is thinking about."

A West Ham insider told Soccernet: "Zola has given the players three days off and they return on Wednesday. Zola thinks it's best to get away to try and take the pressure off them and to freshen them up."

Steve Clarke is in Scotland, Zola has gone to Sardinia and the Hammers expect their manager back on Tuesday evening ready to take training on Wednesday morning. The club have heard nothing about Zola thinking over his future.

Soccernet understands that the first Sullivan and Gold knew that Zola was in Italy was when they were tipped off by the press. Then they discovered that Zola had notified the club of his intention of giving the players a three day break.

Sullivan and Gold were shocked when Zola left Upton Park on Saturday evening suggesting to journalists he was off to think over his position. They had an "amicable" talk with Zola after the game, and at no time was it suggested he was going to be sacked or that they would like him to resign.

However, Zola is fully aware that he is sure to be replaced in the summer, and is now considering his own options.

Also, Zola knows that there are eight names being thrown into the ring as potential managerial replacements. Mark Hughes, Alex McLeish, Slaven Bilic and Steve McClaren are being touted for next season, while Glenn Hoddle, Graeme Souness, Terry Venables and David O'Leary have been named as firefighters for the final six games in case Zola decides to resign.

In the press conference after the defeat to Stoke, Zola was asked whether he would consider resigning: "I have to find out what the problem is. If the problem is me then why not? The players are trying hard for us," he said.

"The bottom line is to see whether I can help them or not. I will consider over night whether I am doing a good job or not. Right now I am flat because we lost another game and it is the sixth and it is not good for me. It is very painful and I will think a lot about how the situation stands and find a solution. We will see what we can do.

"I will have to consider a lot about today's game. There is a lot to think about. I am not hinting towards anything. If I don't think I am the man I will let you know but right now the players are behind us, we just need to change something to be more helpful towards them.

"I know my duties and I know right now the situation is not going the way it should. I am prepared to accept the situation. It is going to be a week in which we will be talking to each other."

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