Gianfranco Zola has voiced disbelief at players who happily take lucrative contracts at super-rich clubs, including Manchester City, knowing they are guaranteed no more than a place on the bench.West Ham's manager persuaded Scott Parker to sign an extended deal to 2013 instead of moving to City in last month's transfer window, and confirmed the midfielder had turned down the offer of far more money at Eastlands.West Ham are in contract discussions with Robert Green and Lucas Neill, who Zola said were close to signing, as well as Matthew Upson. "We are very proud to have kept players like him [Parker]," Zola said. "It means that we are doing a good job and the players appreciate what we do. Its very important because I don't think its a matter of money – I'm sure if it [had been] about money Scott would've gone there [City]. He likes what we're doing here and he's committed and that is a very positive sign."Parker finds himself at West Ham having left Charlton acrimoniously for Chelsea and then heading to big-paying Newcastle United after failing to hold down a first-team place at Stamford Bridge.Zola is adamant players should consider their careers before money. "It's a fact of choice, it's down to the players. But I would never go to a team where maybe they can give me a lot of money but I don't play. That is the problem with the big squads and big teams. They have 24 players, some even more, and they are 24 internationals so you don't get any games."Whereas Parker's five-year contract was sealed with a player who at 28 is in his prime, Neill will be 31 next month. He earns around £60,000 a week, a sum that raised eyebrows when he joined from Blackburn Rovers in January 2007 under the former chairman Eggert Magnusson. Zola does not expect the Australian to receive a pay rise."I don't think so but the club will try to make him happy. I don't know if he's going to get what he's asking for but he's certainly a player that's done a lot for us this year and the club wants to extend his contractWest Ham UnitedManchester CityPremier Leagueguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
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