West Ham co-owner David Sullivan has dismissed reports that Gianfranco Zola could be sacked if West Ham lose to Birmingham.
Reports speculated that the Italian could be fired if the Hammers fail to beat Blues at Upton Park on Wednesday night.
When asked how secure Zola’s position is, Sullivan told Sky Sports News: “It’s 100 per cent secure.”
The former Birmingham co-owner does not believe sacking the manager would be in the club’s long-term interests.
“In 17 years we sacked two managers at Birmingham,” he continued. “We’re not sackers.
“We support managers and we will bring in players to improve the team in the summer.
“I think over the next 14 games we’ll learn an awful lot about everyone at West Ham, the team and the manager.
“I’m confident over the next 14 games that the team will improve and that we’ll claw our way up the table.”
Sullivan refused to discuss his earlier suggestion that everyone at the club would need to take a 25 per cent pay cut in the summer, stating only that the club’s finances remain in dire straits.
“The books are horrendous,” he added. “There’s 100-odd million of debt. This might be the last interview I do this season.
“We’ve made the public aware of the situation. We’re not going to go over and over it again.
“It’s an enormous challenge. We think we’re up for it. It’s something that we have to put all our energy into.”
