Joint-chief played with Zola

CHELSEA legend Gianfranco Zola could be the secret weapon in Hayes & Yeading’s survival bid.

The former Italy international was one of the senior pros when United’s newly-appointed jointmanager, Paul Hughes, was breaking through as a young midfielder at Stamford Bridge.

And Zola was also manager at Watford when recent United signing Ryan Hope was trying to make it as a pro at Vicarage Road.

Hope said: “I was at Watford for 11 years, and I was with the first team for a little bit, under Zola, which was an amazing experience. He’s one of the best Premier League players ever, and he really helped me with my game. The gaffer’s played along- side him a few times too, so you could say Franco’s had a bit of an influence on this side.”

While a few of Hope’s pals from his Watford days are still in the pro game, like Newport’s Jazzi BarnumBobb and Fleetwood loanee Alex Jakubiak, Hope drifted into non-league with Boreham Wood, Wealdstone, Harrow Borough and Slough Town.

He then hooked up with Hughes and the other joint-boss – Ritchie Hanlon – at Kings Langley this season, before following the duo to Hayes & Yeading.

He said: “They are really good people who know their football and I’m confident they will get us out of trouble. The boys have gelled well and training seems busy and bright. We just need to pick up points quickly.”

Hope already has experience of helping turn around seemingly lost causes, having been part of the Harrow side which came back from the dead to stave off relegation from the Ryman Premier two years ago.

He said: “I was at Harrow for what became known as the Great Escape, which was a good experience, but things didn’t quite work out there in preseason so I found Hughesy and Ritchie, which I’m delighted about.

“There’s still lots of work to do, but the gaffers are top, top people who have been around and know what they’re doing. They know what they need to do. There’s lots of talent and ability in the squad, but we need to do the other bits.”

Hope scored in the first minute as United hammered fellow strugglers St Neots 5-1 on Saturday to move to within two points of escaping the Southern Premier drop zone, Josh Hutchinson hitting a hat-trick and Mitchell Weiss netting. United were due to play Chesham United last night.