Slaven Bilic is believed to have ruled himself out of taking charge of West Ham United after Alan Curbishley resigned as manager yesterday over a dispute with the club’s board. Bilic, the former West Ham defender and one of the favourites among supporters to succeed Curbishley, would prefer to continue coaching Croatia, who take on England in a World Cup qualifier in Zagreb next Wednesday.

Bilic’s stock has risen since he helped to eliminate England en route to qualifying for the 2008 European Championship finals, but he spurned an offer from SV Hamburg to sign a new two-year contract, worth about £100,000 a season, with his national side — Curbishley earned in the region of £1.2 million a year. The contract includes escape clauses, but Bilic, 39, believes that he may receive an offer from a bigger club should he continue to impress.

Curbishley’s decision to step down leaves West Ham looking for their third permanent manager in five years, having had nine in the previous century. Their Icelandic owners are not interested in throwing money at quick-fix solutions, so some of the lesser-known names in the frame cannot be ruled out. Among them is Davide Ballardini, the former Cagliari head coach, but the board will meet today to discuss a list of more than 20 candidates, which will be reduced to about ten for interview.

According to West Ham’s job specification, the new manager must be experienced, have a proven track record in building a club for the longer term and be comfortable working with Gianluca Nani, the Italian technical director, under a continental framework. Harry Redknapp, though, will not be putting his name forward.

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BACKGROUND

• Critical fans tough on Curbishley

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The former West Ham manager, now in charge at Portsmouth, said that there was “no way” he would be replacing Curbishley, blaming the present trend for rich owners undermining their managers. “I take my hat off to him for sticking to his principles, [but] I have one big advantage over a lot of Premier League bosses these days — I’ve got an owner who lets the manager manage,” Redknapp said.

“There are so many billionaires owning clubs now. They buy and sell who they want, managers don’t come into it. These days owners sign whoever they think is a sexy name and they sell whoever they want. The days of managing as I know it are coming to an end.”

Curbishley, 50, felt that he was undermined by the sale of George McCartney, the defender, to Sunderland on the final day of the transfer window. He claimed that he was given assurances that no other players would be sold after Anton Ferdinand’s departure — also to Sunderland — two weeks ago.

“The selection of players is critical to the job of the manager and I had an agreement with the club that I alone would determine the composition of the squad,” Curbishley said. “However, the club continued to make significant player decisions without involving me. In the end, such a breach of trust and confidence meant that I had no option but to leave. I am absolutely gutted I have had to come to this decision.”

Curbishley’s 21-month reign ended in his resignation after a heated argument with Scott Duxbury, the chief executive, at lunchtime. “We feel it is in the best interests of both parties,” West Ham said in a statement.

There will be some sympathy for Curbishley, who helped West Ham to avoid relegation on the last day of the 2006-07 season. They finished a creditable tenth last season, having suffered numerous injuries to influential players. A 4-1 victory against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday ensured their best league start for nine years, but playing the “West Ham way” often counts more than results at Upton Park.

Kevin Keen, the reserve-team coach, has been put in temporary charge for the second time and could take control of the team for the match away to West Bromwich Albion a week on Saturday. He was demoted from first-team coach soon after Curbishley took over.