West Ham has interviewed former Italy internationals Gianfranco Zola and Roberto Donadoni for its vacant manager's job and hopes to speak to at least another two high-profile candidates before appointing a successor to Alan Curbishley. West Ham director Mike Lee said former Chelsea forward Zola and Donadoni, who stepped down as Italy coach following the team's disappointing quarterfinal exit from this year's European Championship, “really shone” in interviews this week. Michael Laudrup and Slaven Bilic are also under consideration to succeed Curbishley, who quit this week and accused the club's board of selling players against his wishes, although Bilic has indicated that he is unlikely to step down from his position as Croatia coach while the team is trying to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. “With Donadoni and Zola, and potentially Laudrup, we have some very exciting candidates,” Lee told BBC Radio 5 on Sunday. “But if Bilic wasn't available until January, that would rule him out.” Lee said the Hammers still want to speak to the 39-year-old Bilic, who played for West Ham in the 1990s and has forged a strong Croatia team in his first managerial position, in an attempt to persuade him to quit his country and accept the relatively lucrative post. “That is a discussion that would have to take place with the Croatian FA and with Slaven himself,” Lee said, adding that there would be no contact with Bilic until after Croatia's World Cup qualifier against England on Wednesday. West Ham has ruled out John Collins after interviewing the former Scotland midfielder, so Zola and Donadoni appear to be the front
