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Zola confirms his intention to fight on at West Ham

Gianfranco Zola and his players have had three days of recuperation © Getty Images

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Gianfranco Zola has confirmed on West Ham's official website that he will continue the fight to save West Ham from relegation.

It had been expected that Zola would lose his job following the club's sixth successive defeat at the hands of Stoke on Saturday, but he had an "amicable" chat with co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold after the game and it was decided that he would stay on.

Zola returned to Italy for a three-day break on Sunday having decided to give himself and his players a rest as he considered his future at the club. And, following a period of reflection, the Italian has decided he is capable of turning around the slump in form.

"I am determined to carry on," read a statement from Zola. "Losing on Saturday was emotional for everyone but I know we can turn it around and we have the ability to achieve our objectives.

"The owners have backed me and I am grateful for that. My only thought for now is to keep this club in the Premier League and that remains my goal. I will give everything I can to make this happen between now and the end of the season.

"I have had time to think and reflect, and will have to work harder than we have before. I know we can get the results we need and it is just a question of making it happen. The performance was better on Saturday but it is still not the level we should be at. We can, and we will, do better as a team.

"I have a great staff and we will work together to find the solutions. We have a responsibility to turn things around and that is what we will do. I am here and I am ready to do what I need to do to get the results. There is no doubt about that. We have seen before that we are capable of playing at a high level.

"We will go to Everton determined to get a result. People might not expect us to get something from the match but we will be positive. No one should write us off. Although we are in a serious position we have time to sort things out and be in control of our destiny at the end of the season.

"We said before Stoke that one game would not define the season but we also know that each of the games we have left will be cup finals. They will be massive and I know the fans will once again get behind us starting with Everton and we will give everything to reward their support. They have been brilliant and we owe them."

Zola plans to return from his break on Tuesday night ready for training on Wednesday and has resolved to do all he can to save the club from relegation in their remaining six games

Burnley's defeat at home to Blackburn on Sunday has given West Ham fresh hope of survival, although 18th-placed Hull City drew level on points with the Hammers after victory over Fulham on Saturday.

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