More newspaper nonsense: Zola to make return as West Ham boss? Poyet and Di Canio also in frame...

With the January transfer window over and done with for another year, one could have been forgiven for thinking that silly season in the media was over and that the assorted football hacks of this country could be a little more sensible with what they fill their newspapers with. Sadly, it appears not.

Looking at this morning's Mirror, it would appear the "journalists" at that particular paper have put two and two together and come up with an octopus. Confirmation from West Ham co-chairman David Gold was heard on Sunday that manager Sam Allardyce would not be invited to open negotiations over a new contract until Premier League survival had been secured. So obviously, that means that the Irons want rid and are "scouting around for possible contenders" for the job (which doesn't actually exist yet, given it has an incumbent) and Brighton manager Gus Poyet, former Hammers favourite and current Swindon manager Paolo Di Canio, as well as Watford manager Gianfranco Zola are also reportedly those being looked at. I mean really! It is difficult to see on what grounds the Mirror are making these claims: fair play, the Di Canio story looms up every time West Ham aren't doing well because a return of the prodigal son is apparently "what the fans want"; why on earth Poyet would want to come to us; given that our Premier League survival is still far from confirmed and Brighton still have a shout of the play offs so could be playing in the top flight themselves next season; I'm sure I don't know; and the Zola link is just plain crazy! Gold and Sullivan sacked the bloke because he wasn't their type of manager, despite managing to keep the club in the Premier League on almost no money, so on what authority the Mirror have it that they want him back, I'd love to know. All this is just such rubbish and for me, sums up what is wrong with British sports journalism. All coffee and no omelette- none of these moves are going to happen. Silly season once again but guess us Irons should be used to it by now!

By Alex Shilling