GIANFRANCO Zola has made it clear he intends to stay at West Ham and guide them to Premier League safety.

Zola spoke out from his plush family home on Sardinia, where he returned following the 1-0 defeat by Stoke that has left his side on the brink of the relegation zone.

A dejected Zola admitted he would consider his future over the weekend but has now declared: “I am determined to carry on.

“Losing on Saturday was emotional for everyone but I know we can turn it around and we have the ability to achieve our objectives.”

West Ham’s performances had come under fire from co-owner David Sullivan, but Zola says he had a supportive conversation with him and co-owner David Gold after the Stoke defeat.

“They have backed me and I am grateful,” added Zola. “My only thought for now is to keep this club in the Premier League and that remains my goal.

“I’ll give everything I can to make this happen between now and the end of the season. I have had time to think and we will have to work harder than we have before.

“I know we can get the results we need and it is just a question of making it happen. The performance was better on Saturday, but it is still not the level we should be at. We can, and will, do better as a team.

“I have a great staff and we will work together to find the solutions. We have a responsibility to turn things around and that is what we will do.”

Zola found himself at the centre of more criticism for giving his players three days off before resuming training tomorrow.

But after two high-pressure matches in five days and the next, at Everton, not until next Sunday, it was felt desirable to give the players a breather.

“We will go to Everton determined to get a result,” said Zola “People might not expect us to get something from the match but we will be positive.

“No-one should write us off. Although we are in a serious position, we have time to sort things out and be in control of our destiny at the end of the season.”