Click here for the Champions League Quarter-Final and Semi-Final draws and outright tournament odds

West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola retains the full support of the club, according to co-owner David Sullivan.

There has been speculation that the Hammers’ boss was close to quitting following Tuesday’s Premier League defeat to fellow relegation battlers Wolves.

But Sullivan, who, along with Gold and vice-chairman Karren Brady, met the Italian after the Wolves defeat, has given his backing to Zola.

Sullivan told The Guardian: “We’re 100 per cent behind the manager. There will be no changes.

“We all had a chat with him after the game to see how he felt about things.

“We realise the performance was absolutely appalling. We can’t play like that again, and I’m sure the manager will be making changes for Saturday [Stoke] and I’m sure it will be a much better performance.

“That game is significant but it’s one game out of seven. But, at the same time, I don’t think bringing in an Iain Dowie mark II will make us a better team.

“I don’t think [appointing an ‘impact manager’] would be a major achievement.”

Zola took up his post with the Hammers in September 2008 and signed a new contract to keep him at Upton Park until 2013.

Sullivan is confident the former Italy international still has the desire to succeed at the club.

He said: “Very much so. He knows it was a bad performance and they can do better. And there will be changes at the weekend.”

Asked whether Zola would leave at the end of the campaign, Sullivan replied: “I wouldn’t like to comment on that. Who knows?

“He could look like a hero or a dunce. If he wins the next seven games he looks like the best manager of all time. If he loses the next seven games he’s the worst manager of all time.

“What people forget is there is 18.4 per cent of the season still to go. That’s a large chunk of the season.

“Three of the five defeats we’ve just suffered were expected. But to lose at home to Bolton and Wolverhampton in consecutive home games is appalling. I think we all accept that. But we will see what he is made of in the next few games.”

Click here for the Champions League Quarter-Final and Semi-Final draws and outright tournament odds

Make sure you don’t miss any of the last news and articles from World Soccer. Subscribe to World Soccer today and take advantage of our all 50th anniversary offer, saving up to 50%!