West Ham United co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold were not present for the dismissal of Gianfranco Zola yesterday, it has been revealed.

The Mirror says Hammers vice-chairman Karren Brady needed only ten minutes to call time on the Italian's 20-month reign at Upton Park yesterday morning.

Co-owners Sullivan and Gold, who bought 50 per cent of the club in January, did not attend the last rites of the Italian's first club management job.

"It wasn't the longest meeting," admitted one source.