West Ham United co-owner David Sullivan admits the jury's out over the long-term prospects of manager Gianfranco Zola.

West Ham slipped back into the bottom three following Saturday's demoralising 2-1 defeat at Burnley, a performance that left the club hierarchy furious at the players' attitude and defending in particular.

Sullivan told The Sun: "Of all the managers I've dealt with he is the nicest. The question is 'Is he too nice?' Ossie Ardiles was the nicest guy you could meet but look what he did to Tottenham.

"Time will tell. Zola will prove himself over the next few games. I still don't regret taking over. If we get relegated I would. We'd have to sell half the team.

"Normally you don't have the debt we've inherited or the wage bill we've inherited. I was always a very good judge. The season Birmingham got relegated I said after 10 games 'We're going down'.

"Maybe I've lost my judgment but I just don't see us getting relegated. Maybe it's the West Ham fan in me coming out and I've become an eternal optimist.

"I'm not acting like some administrator who just wants to save money. I want to improve the team.

"At Birmingham we bought a team which reflects the size of that club. But West Ham is a bigger club and we want to do it justice."