West Ham United fan favourite Paolo Di Canio has implored the club to unify as they look to avoid relegation.

The Hammers quest for safety has been put on hold after the coronavirus forced Premier League to suspend matches until April 3.

"We need to be a unit," said Di Canio told the club's website. "It's obvious that everybody expected a better season – the Board didn't want to see West Ham there, and also [nor did] the fans. I can understand the frustration but now is the moment, I hope, when the season starts again, to get close, because everybody loses if West Ham go down.

"So, the frustration is OK, but it is not the moment of the polemical in my opinion, but to push all in the same way to maintain and to save West Ham, because West Ham has got incredible quality and incredible potential for the future to finish in the top eight.

"The Club obviously spent big money in the last two years. It didn't pay, unfortunately at the moment, because we had many problems, but the future will be green in my opinion.

"So, the moment is to stay united and stay together."