Zola: Tevez saga 'resolved soon'
Gianfranco Zola is confident the long-running Carlos Tevez saga will soon be over and a final settlement between West Ham and Sheffield United is imminent.
The drama has been going on behind the scenes ever since the Blades were relegated in 2007, with Tevez – who should have been ineligible to play because of a third-party ownership row – scoring the goals that kept the Hammers up in their place.
United had initially lodged a claim for as much as £45m – the figure they estimated as the true cost of relegation.
West Ham rated the loss at no more than £5m but suffered a blow last year when an independent Football Association tribunal chaired by Lord Griffiths supported the South Yorkshire side’s claims.
It appears a settlement of around £10m – spread over a period over five years – has been struck.
Hammers manager Zola therefore hopes he can soon get back to the business of planning for next season and beyond.
“I hope it will be resolved soon and I am confident it will be,” said the Italian.
“It’s looking good at the moment and it would be a good thing for the club -because then we can sit down and plan for the future, knowing exactly where we are and what we are dealing with.
“I believe they are trying to find an agreement, and I hope they do that as soon as possible. That would give us a clear picture for the future, and we can sit down and plan.”
Asked if he is troubled by the Tevez saga, and the constant speculation over the financial viability of the club’s Icelandic owners, Zola remained pragmatic.
“I personally have to focus on the work on the pitch. That is why the club employed me,” he reasons.
“I’m 100% focused on my job. It is my responsibility to make sure things on the pitch work well. If I can do that I can be helpful to the club.
“This is the world of football. I know it is not just about kicking the ball for us right now; it is dealing with other things. But whatever the worry, I know I can switch on to the football and not let other things get in the way.”
Zola’s immediate concern is Monday’s match against the Barclays Premier League’s bottom side, West Brom.
Although such a fixture is often looked on as three easy points by outsiders, Zola is urging caution from his players.
“This is not going to be a ’gimme’, that’s for sure,” he warned.
“They are playing well and have been unlucky in some situations.
“We need to respect them, and it is a big danger for us.
“We are playing well. But when you play against last in the table it can give the players too much confidence, and that is something we must avoid at all costs.
“So we are in a state of alert.”
