Soccer

West Ham will wait and see if Slaven Bilic is a ‘one-season wonder’

He has enjoyed a fantastic first season but Bilic will have to wait on a new contract

West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic will begin negotiations for a new contract near the end of next season. Photograph: EPA
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic will begin negotiations for a new contract near the end of next season. Photograph: EPA
Fri Mar 25 2016 - 09:20

West Ham are planning to reward manager Slaven Bilic with a new contract — but want to make sure he is not a "one-season wonder" first.

Bilic has enjoyed an impressive first campaign in charge after taking over at Upton Park last June, guiding the Hammers to fifth place in the Premier League with eight games to go and through to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

The former Croatia boss, 47, signed a three-year contract when he joined the Hammers but is set to be handed a new deal in 2017 — providing he proves this season was not just a flash in the pan.

West Ham joint-chairman David Sullivan said in the Mirror: "I will give Slaven a new deal in January.

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“I just want to see that he is not a one-season wonder. I’m sure he is not, but we will talk next January — or at the end of next season.

“I have to tell you that he is interested in the project, not money.

“He stayed at Croatia on £2,000 a week for five years when he would have had bundles of offers. He is not really into money. He is more interested in getting the best players for the club than the best money for himself.”