Croatian FA warn Hammers off Bilic
by Joseph Caron Dawe, 05 September 2008
Slaven Bilic has distanced himself from the vacant West Ham managerial job while he prepares his Croatia side for their World Cup qualifier against Kazakhstan on Saturday, and now the president of the Croatian FA has put the brakes on any hopes The Hammers may have of bringing the former Upton Park defender back to east London.
Following Alan Curbishley’s departure a host of names have been linked with the managerial role at the Premier League club, with the long list of contenders having now been whittled down to a shortlist of six potential suitors.
Bilic shot to the top slots in the list of favourites for the job as soon as Curbishley’s exit was announced on Wednesday, but the 39-year-old stated on Thursday he was focused on taking Croatia to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
"I always said West Ham will be my choice when I return to England," he told Croatian sports daily Sportske Novosti.
"However, my contract with the Croatian FA expires in 2010 and I am intending to lead Croatia in this period."
And now Vlatko Markovic has categorically stated that any attempts The Hammers may make to prise Bilic away from them will prove futile.
"It will be mission impossible," said Markovic in the Daily Express.
"Bilic can't go because there will be a big political problem with Croatia. This is the usual speculation.
"Bilic can't go and, even if he loses against England (in the World Cup qualifier next Wednesday), he is not going to leave as we are very happy with him.
"They might have money, but so do we and the Croatian FA has enough money to buy West Ham."