WEST HAM have made provision to interview Slaven Bilic in Zagreb for their vacant manager’s position before Croatia’s crucial World Cup qualifier against England on Wednesday. It is understood chief executive Scott Duxbury and technical director Gianluca Nani have been in discussion with Bilic’s camp to meet the Croatia manager in the next 48 hours.

Bilic is the last of seven candidates to be interviewed by West Ham before they whittle down the shortlist to the two or three managers who will meet the six-man board later this week.

The club have made it clear to Bilic that owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson hopes to have a new manager in place ahead of Saturday’s away game at West Brom, with the incumbent ready to take charge of his first game at home to Newcastle seven days later.

Roberto Donadoni and John Collins were interviewed on Friday, followed by Gianfranco Zola yesterday, while face-to-face soundings with Gerard Houllier, Roberto Mancini and Michael Laudrup will be completed tomorrow. Although Bilic has distanced himself from the post since Alan Curbishley resigned on Tuesday, sources close to the former West Ham defender say he would “jump at the chance” to return. He is sympathetic to the club’s timetable and has agreed in principle to meet West Ham before Wednesday’s game.

In fact Bilic, inset, did approach the West Ham board last month through an intermediary to tell them he was interested in becoming their next manager. He is held in high regard by West Ham fans and would be popular given his success in moulding a new generation of Croatia players into a resilient, attractive unit.

Bilic and Donadoni, the former Italy coach understood to have been “very impressive” during his interview, have emerged as the leading contenders, but Mancini, the former Inter Milan manager who was sacked in May despite guiding the Italian club to its third consecutive Serie A title, also has strong support.

Curbishley stepped down after complaining that transfer decisions were made without his knowledge.

He wanted to offload Bobby Zamora, Danny Gabbidon, Calum Davenport and Jamie Collins in the summer but only Zamora was sold while Anton Ferdinand, George McCartney, Richard Wright and John Pantsil were let go above his head.