Di Matteo is new bookies second favourite

Roberto Di Matteo has been made the second favourite by book makers to take charge of West Ham following his resignation as head coach of Schalke 04.  The 44-year-old had been in charge of the Bundesliga club for just seven and half months.

But defeat by Hamburg on Saturday left Schalke with two wins from 10 games to miss out on a Champions League place. Schalke ended the season sixth meaning they will compete in next season’s Europa League.

Di Matteo said he resigned because of a difference of opinion over plans for next season following a meeting with the club’s director of sport Horst Heldt. “I offered a plan for a possible successful future and what the conditions for that would need to be,” said Di Matteo, who had two years left in his contract. “It became clear that the club had a different emphasis. This is why I decided to resign from my position as head coach.”

The Italian led Chelsea to the 2012 Champions League title but was replaced by Spaniard Rafael Benitez after eight months.

Di Matteo started his manager career At MK Dons before later taking West Brom to promotion to the Premier League.