Zola plans to take Hammers to Europe

West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola says his long-term plans for the club won’t be derailed even if they miss out on Europe this season.
As predicted in the Gazette last week, Zola and his assistant Steve Clarke both signed extended contracts with the club last week which should see them remain at the helm until 2013.
They have committed their futures to the club and continue to talk about ‘the project’ as being in its infancy.
The Hammers’ defeat to Chelsea on Saturday saw them slip out of the European qualification places for the first time in weeks but Zola insists European qualification will come – even if it is not to be this season.
He said: “We want to be, in a few years time, competing with the top four, the top five. “That is the project and we have started this year. It is just the beginning.
“We have a lot of enthusiasm and we trust what we are doing. We will see what happens.“One thing is for sure, it is a good thing not only on the pitch but off the pitch. I work very well with Scott Duxbury and Gianluca Nani and we are going to try everything to be successful.
“I like what I am doing so it was easy to sign here for another four years.
“They have treated me very well and they just look after me and my staff. It was an easy decision.”
Despite rumours of financial meltdown, Zola is also confident that he will be able to strengthen by dipping into the transfer market.
“The next stage is we will be trying to improve the squad,” said the Italian.
“We know we have to improve the team so we are going to try. “Don't be surprised if there will be a few signings and hopefully when they come they will take the level of the team even higher.
“I will be a better manager next season. It is my first season and I am just starting. I am not presumptuous to say I know everything about the game.
“There are so many things I need to learn and I am very much willing to learn … I am pleased to make mistakes because you get better only through those mistakes.”
With a tough trip to Stoke City this week and a list of unfit players the manager knows seventh place will not be easy, but he is determined not to give up until the end.
“I don't mind dropping out from the first seven now as long as I can be there on the last game,” he said.
“That is the point. We know it is going to be up and down until the end but for sure we are not going to give up until the end.”