Bookmakers Suspends Betting On Zola Departure

Sports betting on Zola departure suspended following big gamble.

A "substantial and sustained gamble" on Gianfranco Zola to be the next Premier League manager to leave his club has seen sports betting suspended on the West Ham manager.

William Hill had previously been offering the Italian at odds of 5/1 to be next to leave but odds had been cut multiple times to 6/5 before bets were suspended.

One punter in London placed a five-figure bet on the former Chelsea man to either walk out or be sacked.

"They were backing Zola at any price and there must be a rumour that either he is walking or the likely new owners are not Zola fans," said William Hill's spokesman Rupert Adams.

David Gold and David Sullivan, the former owners of Birmingham City, have completed their takeover of the club and the unsettled times at Upton Park may have led to the increased betting about the future of its manager.

Gold has already suggested that manager Gianfranco Zola's position is safe.