West Ham striker Mido insists the whole squad are behind under-fire manager Gianfranco Zola.

THE return of one Chelsea legend was immediately overshadowed by the imminent arrival of another and there was little doubt which homecoming dominated thoughts at Stamford Bridge.

MIDFIELDER Frank Lampard insists Chelsea can fend off any new year title push from Manchester United after the Blues halted their mini-crisis with a hard-earned victory over bottom club Portsmouth on Wednesday night.

West Ham first-team coach Steve Clarke has joined manager Gianfranco Zola in signing a new contract to stay at Upton Park until 2013.

Italian midfielder Samuele Dalla Bona has offered his services to West Ham having recently cut short his contract with Napoli.

Manchester City new boy Craig Bellamy has denied going on strike to get a move away from Upton Park.

West Ham chief executive Scott Duxbury insists manager Gianfranco Zola is under no pressure to sell his top stars in the January transfer window.

West Ham chief executive Scott Duxbury has admitted no player is off-limits as the club brace themselves for several bids on their stars during the January transfer window.

Ray Wilkins has warned Europe’s elite they will have to pay big money to land any of their stars in the January transfer window.

WEST HAM’S caretaker manager Kevin Keen has welcomed the appointment of Gianfranco Zola as a “fresh start”.

GIANFRANCO ZOLA has agreed a three-year deal to become West Ham’s next manager.

GIANFRANCO Zola has moved into pole position in the race to be the next West Ham manager, it can be revealed.

The irritating itch that failure to win the Vodafone Derby has become for Frankie Dettori could be about to disappear.

KEN BATES moved to quell player unrest at Chelsea over contracts by revealing there will be a new deal waiting for John Terry when he returns from South Africa.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink admitted he had under-performed this season as he looked to end on a winning note despite having failed to reach 20 goals in a campaign for the first time in seven years.

Chelsea 4 Everton 1

West Brom 0

JIMMY FLOYD HASSELBAINK reckons Chelsea now have the grit to go with the glamour.

Old master Gianfranco Zola intends to keep splitting the frontline partnership of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Eidur Gudjohnsen which brought Chelsea 52 goals last season.

Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri has promised Gianfranco Zola a future coaching role at Stamford Bridge - but only after the Italian’s commitment to entertain crowds has finally been extinguished.