When Gianfranco Zola took over at West Ham I wonder if he was aware that the very next day the club's main sponsors, XL, would go bust, and a week later they would be ordered to pay £30 million compensation to Sheffield United?

Zola has been assured that money will be made available, if required, in the January transfer window, but I wonder if he is really reassured?

It is reported that West Ham have a wage bill approaching £50 million a year. That massive salary bill together with having one of the biggest first-team squads in the Premier League, was part of the reason West Ham sold John Pantsil, Bobby Zamora, Richard Wright and Anton Ferdinand during the last transfer window.

It seems very likely that Zola will find himself in a position where he has to sell before he can buy.

I have a lot of time for Gianfranco Zola but I do wonder if through nothing more than bad timing, he has bitten off more than he can chew.