West Ham have not given up hope of persuading Martin O'Neill to be their next manager, despite their relegation to the Championship.
Reports today suggested that O'Neill, out of a job since leaving Aston Villa in August 2010, would reject any advances from West Ham for a second time, following the club's efforts to persuade him to take over from Avram Grant last January.
It is understood today, though, that the club's owners, David Gold and David Sullivan, still believe there is a chance of convincing O'Neill that his managerial future lies at Upton Park.
Sullivan, meanwhile, said today he was "amused" by reports that potential candidates for the manager's job had already ruled themselves out.
"We are amused by certain individuals saying they don't want the job when they haven't been considered for it," he said. "We've had approaches by some good candidates but we treat all applications as confidential."
Sullivan's remarks come after former England coach Steve McClaren ruled himself out of the running and Brighton manager Gus Poyet said he wouldn't be making an application. Former Bolton and Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce, meanwhile, remains a candidate, while the West Ham board have been impressed with the way Paul Lambert has guided Norwich to promotion to the Premier League.
Former West Ham forward Paolo di Canio, who has been linked with the vacant managerial post, said today he would "give everything" if he ended up with a coaching role at Upton Park.
"I believe my future will be in England," Di Canio told Italian TV channel Sport Mediaset. "In the next few days something will happen.
"English football is loyal, full of pride and I believe I'm close to returning to England. It is the country that I most love from a football standpoint."
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The Italian spent seven years playing in the Premier League, four of which were at West Ham. "I am very saddened by West Ham's relegation," he said. "This team have always been in my heart. They have unique supporters. I would give everything for West Ham. I even have a Hammers tattoo."
The club, meanwhile, are still not in a position to confirm the identity of the fan who allegedly made a racist remark to striker Demba Ba and caused a scuffle at the end-of-season gala dinner at the Grosvenor House hotel on Monday night.
"The incident at the hotel has been blown out of all proportion," said Sullivan today.
"We do not yet know the individual who was involved, only the table where he was sitting."
The West Ham co-chairman also said today that he would be willing to talk to AirAsia chief executive Tony Fernandes about investing in the club.
