Hammers dismiss exodus talk

West Ham United have once again insisted that Gianfranco Zola will not have to sell his best players in the January transfer window.

The Hammers have been hit hard by the global recession and one of the club's main shareholding companies, Hansa, is heading into administration.

The club have also not been able to guarantee that Icelandic chairman Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson will not sell up in the near future.

Gudmundsson lost an estimated £230million when Landsbanki collapsed while Samson Holdings, another company he owns, has also filed for administration.

However, upbeat vice-chairman Asgeir Fridgeirsson said: "West Ham is well funded for the remainder of the year and I am convinced the club will go on, no matter what.

"We are not going to sell players to settle the debts of Hansa.

"Bjorgolfur put £30million into the club last year, it is not a loan like some owners of clubs.

"It was paid in as equity. It is not affecting the operation of West Ham and there is no debt within West Ham from Hansa or vice-versa.

"There is no money going from the club to the owner. It is fire-walled. The operation will go on - it is unaffected by this development."