All I hear is West Ham are chasing an Italian manager be it Gianfranco Zola or Roberto Donadoni – who have both apparently impressed the club during their interviews, or the likes of Michael Laudrup.

What’s wrong with looking at some of the good English managers plying their trade like Gary Johnson? What is the obsession with foreign managers, are they any better than what we’ve got ?

Steve McClaren’s England were drawing 0-0 in Andorra, Fabio Capelllo’s England – which by the way bore a striking resemblance to McClaren’s in so many ways were just as lamentable last weekend.

Paul Ince bucked the trend by taking over at Blackburn Rovers, but he is very much the exception rather than the rule.

Who’s on Newcastle’s list? The Real Zaragoza boss Marcelino Toral has already ruled himself out of the running, as has Slaven Bilic, who West Ham wanted as well. I was told Gus Poyet, an early favourite for the job, won’t move from Spurs and I now read Newcastle are also looking at Zola.

How do Chelsea fans feel about that?

A true Chelsea hero, no legend, possibly taking over at fierce rivals West Ham or Newcastle. Questions need to be asked about why he hasn’t been taken on by the Blues in the years since he left the club, he graced so brilliantly as a player.

The English or British manager in the top flight is an endangered species. What is the point of Englishman going into the management game if there is no chance of getting to the top.

I can’t imagine Manchester United – until last week – the biggest club in England going foreign – Fergie won’t let it happen. The likes of Bruce, Hughes or Keane are surely being lined to take over from Sir Alex and that Old Trafford dynasty should be in place for some time to come.

The same sadly can’t be said for our other clubs and West Ham looking abroad is just the latest example of the British manager losing a foot-hold in the Premier League. The Hammers until now have only ever had one non English manager – that was a Scot in the guise of Lou Macari, now it won’t just be someone with an Italian sounding name but a passport to match.