SOCCER: Gianfranco Zola will fly in to London today to start his new life as manager of West Ham.

The 42-year-old has agreed a three-year deal to succeed Alan Curbishley and he is due at Upton Park today to sign his contract.

The club will announce his backroom staff today and it can been revealed that caretaker boss Kevin Keen will continue on the coaching staff - but ex-Hammers striker Paolo di Canio is not part of Zola's plans.

Steve Clarke, the Scot who is currently assistant to Luiz Felipe Scolari at Chelsea, has been linked with a move to becoming Zola's assistant manager - they know each other well from Zola's time there.

So too as has Pierluigi Casiraghi, with whom Zola worked with Italy's Under-21 side, but he has cast doubt on that saying: "If Gianfranco decides to go to England, I will lose a great coach and more importantly, a true friend. But I don't want to leave this national team."

Businessman Kia Joorabchian, who acts as transfer consultant for the Hammers, revealed Clarke is the preferred assistant manager for Zola.

"They are looking for assistants," he said. "Gianfranco has a very close relationship with one particular person, Steve Clarke. They are very close and they feel his experience in the Premier League, working under very big coaches at Chelsea, has given him a lot of experience.

"He is more defensively-minded than Gianfranco so he brings good balance. I think that is what he is going for."

Asked whether Zola's appointment was nearly a done deal, the businessman said: "Yes. Pretty much all the I's and T's have been dotted and crossed.

"I think tomorrow he will sign and be the new West Ham manager."

Graeme Le Saux, a team-mate of Zola's at Chelsea, believes West Ham have landed a great signing.

Le Saux said: "West Ham have pulled off a major coup. It's been a bit of an unsettled time for the club but every one of that squad will be excited. They will be looking forward to that first training session."

Zola has already revealed he is committed to a philosophy which will excite the Hammers fans.

He said: "I only know one way to play: on the floor, attacking football, the way things should be done. I want to excite people, that is why we play isn't it?"