A poor run of one victory from 10 matches has plunged the Hammers to 16th in the Barclays Premier League table, three points above the relegation zone.

The uncertain financial climate at Upton Park has made life difficult for Zola, leaving him with little room for manoeuvre in the January transfer window.

But the popular Italian is determined to succeed and insists he would consider leaving only if he felt he could take the club no further.

"I have a commitment to West Ham and will try everything I can for them. They have shown a lot of faith in me," said the 42-year-old.

"I will only leave if I believe I'm a problem for the club. I respect the people that pay me and I want to give them what they expect from me.

"But I know the rules of my job. I know I have to produce something and make people satisfied.

"If I don't do that I'll go and will have no complaints about that. They're the rules, but I can't think about it every day."

Zola knows he cannot afford to be sidetracked from the job in hand day to day.

"I have to focus on what I must do to avoid being in that situation," he added.

"I've been here for three months - and maybe one year should pass before I'm judged.

"I took the job not to be judged on three or five months' work. But I have to do much better than I have done so far.

"There were some good things in the beginning, but other things have not worked since. I have to improve and know that."

Zola, appointed Hammers boss in September following a spell as Italy Under-21s coach, models his approach to troubled times on Sir Alex Ferguson.

"My job is to find solutions in difficult moments. Sometimes football is not logical, but that doesn't mean you have to change the way you work," he said.

"Sir Alex Ferguson had difficult times in the past, but that didn't change his attitude or the way he worked.

"In the end he got it going, and I have to say I admire him very much for that. He stuck to his guns."

Zola made 229 appearances for Chelsea during a seven-year spell that saw him plunder 59 goals and win the adoration of Blues fans.

Chelsea have a long-standing and bitter rivalry with West Ham. But Zola hopes he will be given a warm welcome, along with his assistant and former Blues coach Steve Clarke.

"Steve and I were very committed to the Chelsea cause when we were there," he said.

"Now we have made another choice and want to establish a new career somewhere else, and Chelsea fans must respect that.

"It's an honour to be a part of Chelsea's history, but I'm on a new adventure. I hope people understand that.

"If people don't respect that then they're not right. I'm not concerned - people have to have common sense."