New boss Zola ready to make hard calls

GIANFRANCO ZOLA is ready to be “unpopular” and make the tough choices needed to take West Ham forward.

The well-liked former Chelsea midfielder — voted Footballer of the Year in 1997 and awarded an OBE four years ago — got his reign off to a perfect start in front of the Upton Park faithful when crisis-club Newcastle were beaten 3-1.

The Hammers are now up into fourth place in the table after on-loan Italian David di Michele bagged a brace to mark his home debut in style. However, Zola knows there will be plenty of testing times ahead, but the 42-year-old is relishing the “new challenge”.