West Ham have moved quickly following Curbishley's departure and on Thursday the club's board narrowed their search for a new manager to a shortlist of six names.

The list is understood to include Gerard Houllier, the former Liverpool manager now technical director of the French federation, Bilic, plus three Italians: Giafranco Zola, Roberto Mancini - the ex-Inter Milan coach - and former Italy manager Roberto Donadoni.

No approaches have been made to the likes of Harry Redknapp, Stuart Pearce, and indeed board members have been bemused that both men have ruled themselves out when they were never under consideration.

Houllier is a strong candidate given his Premier League experience, while Bilic's claims may have been overstated. Of the others, Mancini's track record is undoubtedly the best given that he took Inter to the Serie A title for the last three seasons.

Mancini would also hope that his claims are helped by the fact that the Hammers' technical director Gianluca Nani has been involved in making the shortlist - he is not a candidate himself.

A selection process will now take place with candidates being interviewed over the weekend and next week, and the club aim to be in a position to announce their new manager before their next match against West Brom on Saturday week.

According to club sources, the board are keen to make swift progress but have made finding the right man the prerogative.

Although none of the names on the shortlist are English, the board have not ruled anyone in or out on the basis of nationality. They are more concerned with appointing someone with experience of top class football, who is committed to an attacking and entertaining style and who is adept at dealing with the media - arguably the things that Curbishley was not.

The club also want a manager who takes an interest in the development of young players.

According to sources, West Ham's board may extend the shortlist should good new candidates emerge but have been delighted with the calibre of those that have already come forward.

Others on the fringes include John Collins, Martin Olsen - ex-Ajax and Denmark, Martin Jol, David O'Leary and Glenn Hoddle.

Some applicants such as Sam Allardyce and Paolo di Canio have been ruled out already however - Allardyce due to his favoured playing style and di Canio due to his lack of coaching experience.