West Ham United midfielder Mark Noble has hinted the manager's job at Upton Park is a poisoned chalice.

Gianfranco Zola is tipped to leave the club at the end of the season after a deterioration in his relationship with co-owner David Sullivan.

An on-going list of possible replacements are already in the public domain, including Croatia coach Slaven Bilic, former England bosses Glenn Hoddle Steve McClaren and, most recently, former Spurs manager Martin Jol, who is currently in charge at Ajax.

"Anyone who takes the manager's job at West Ham has to think about what might happen if it all goes wrong because that's been the situation in recent years," said Noble.

"I'm used to it, I've seen it all before but these fans are so passionate, they badly want us to do well.

"So does the manager, though, I can assure you of that. I think he's dealt with everything that's gone on around him unbelievably well.

"I am sure that he, the staff and all the players are aiming for one thing and that is staying up."