Croatia - Bilic won't go

Bilic: Happy with Croatia

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Croatian FA president Vlatko Markovic says West Ham United will face 'mission impossible', if they try to appoint Slaven Bilic.

Former Hammers defender Bilic is a leading contender to take over at Upton Park following Alan Curbishley's resignation earlier this week.

Bilic has already insisted that he is committed to taking Croatia to the 2010 World Cup after reports suggested West Ham want to appoint him after next week's qualifier with England.

And Markovic has warned the Premier League club that an approach would be futile after saying Bilic's departure would create a 'big political problem'.

Usual speculation

"It will be mission impossible," said Markovic in the Daily Express.

"Bilic can't go because there will be a big political problem with Croatia. This is the usual speculation.

"Bilic can't go and, even if he loses against England, he is not going to leave as we are very happy with him.

"They might have money, but so do we and the Croatian FA has enough money to buy West Ham."

Stepping stone

Meanwhile, Hammers midfielder Mark Noble believes the team were heading in the right direction under Curbishley, who quit due to the club's transfer dealings.

Noble said: "Without the injuries last year and if a couple of results had gone our way we could have changed things.

"We finished 10th, but we always said that last season was going to be a stepping stone.

"Alan is a proud man, but I don't know what is going on. He resigned and it was his decision."