Zola: Club more important than individuals

Gianfranco Zola maintains West Ham are bigger than Craig Bellamy and the club will continue to move forward, with or without the Wales international.

The Hammers have turned down several bids from both Manchester City and Tottenham for the 29-year-old, while also offering Bellamy a fresh contract in their attempt to keep the player they signed from Liverpool for £7.5m in July 2007.

Even though the east London club do not want to sell, it seems Bellamy has his mind set on leaving.

The player was one of several first-teamers who opted not to attend Friday’s voluntary training session at Chadwell Heath ahead of the visit of Fulham, and is understood to want to talk to interested parties.

Television reports meanwhile said that the player was effectively 'on strike' and was refusing to play against Fulham.

While it remains to be seen whether White Hart Lane or Eastlands will be the next stop for the much-travelled former Norwich trainee, Zola is trying to remain pragmatic about the whole situation.

“We are sorry a player does not want to stay with us anymore,” Zola declared.

“We respect him for what he has done for us, but we want to carry on.

“He knows what he can get here, but if he thinks he can’t get what he wants here, then that’s up to him.”