Zola's sympathy for Dyche (From This Is Local London)

Watford head coach Gianfranco Zola expresses sympathy for sacked Sean Dyche

8:35am Thursday 12th July 2012 in Watford FC - News By Frank Smith , Deputy Group Sports Editor

Gianfranco Zola says he has sympathy for Sean Dyche and believes he will have to win over sections of the Watford faithful following his predecessor’s sacking.

Dyche enjoyed a successful debut season in management after guiding Watford to 11th place in the Championship.

The former centre half had been a player, coach, assistant and manager of the Hornets during the last decade and his sacking surprised many in football.

This is Zola’s second job in management and after being dismissed by West Ham United himself in 2010, the former Italy international says he knows how Dyche feels.

Zola told the Watford Observer: “Of course I have sympathy for him. You never like it when somebody loses their job; I have lost a job and I know how it feels.

“It is a difficult situation and a strange situation because he did a very good job but the new owners have come in and they are trying to put their own people in place.

“I don’t think it was anything to do with Sean and the job he has done, it is just the way it is and it happens everywhere. When people come in they often want their own people.”

Zola has not spoken to Dyche but stated he does have admiration for the man he replaced.

The Chelsea legend was asked whether he believes he needs to win over the supporters, following Dyche’s departure, at Tuesday night’s press conference. He replied: “Yes of course. I know he did very well and to him goes my respect and my admiration.

“He did a very good job so for me the task will be difficult but it has always been like that for me.

“I have had challenges since I started playing football and I was half of the size of the others. They said I wouldn’t stand a chance of becoming a footballer and I took that challenge.

“Now I have another difficult challenge and I told the players, I will give everything I have inside to help them to be maybe a little bit better and we will see how the results go.”

There will be more comments from Zola and chief executive Scott Duxbury uploaded to the website during the course of the week and also in Friday's Watford Observer.