HARRY REDKNAPP will resist the temptation of an emotional return to West Ham United. The Portsmouth manager fears he would suffer the same constraints which prompted Alan Curbishley to resign yesterday, leaving the Croatia coach, Slaven Bilic, as the favourite to take up the reins at Upton Park.

Curbishley became the first Premier League manager to leave his club this season when he walked away from the Boleyn Ground after only 20 months in charge, his relationship with the club's Icelandic owners fractured beyond repair.

The former Charlton manager claimed a "breach of trust and confidence" had left him no option and, while his resignation met with surprise from the club's hierarchy, it was accepted by the chairman, Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson.

West Ham's board met yesterday and agreed upon a procedure by which "a top-class appointment" will be made. Redknapp, who has had a difficult summer attempting to strengthen his Portsmouth squad for a Uefa Cup campaign, had previously been tempted by the possibility of a return to Upton Park, where he excelled as a player and spent seven years as manager before he was sacked by the then chairman, Terence Brown, in 2001.

The 61-year-old has since become alarmed at the perceived constraints under which Curbishley has worked, with players apparently sold behind his back, and has made it clear he would not be prepared to suffer the same restrictions. The Portsmouth manager expressed concern yesterday that the art of management was being eroded by "mega-rich owners" and, while he has been frustrated at times at Fratton Park, he appreciates that he alone buys and sells players there.

"The manager's job will only be about coaching and picking the team," he said.

"In future, managers will not be responsible for buying and selling players. Managers, as we know them now, could be a thing of the past within the next decade."

That leaves Bilic, a former West Ham centre-half who has made no secret of his desire to manage the club, as the leading candidate to replace Curbishley.

The 39-year-old, whose side face England in Zagreb next Wednesday, signed a two-year contract in April, up to the 2010 World Cup. Yet the compensation payable to the Croatian Football Association would be minimal and Bilic would certainly offer the London club the charismatic and dynamic leadership that Gudmundsson wants.

The search for a new manager will be led by West Ham's recently-appointed technical director, Gianluca Nani, who will consider the credentials of another Italian, Davide Ballardini, who steered Cagliari to safety in Serie A last season but is currently unemployed.

The West Ham board were startled at Curbishley's decision to quit, having stressed at meetings in April, May and in the aftermath of the opening-day victory against Wigan Athletic last month that the wage bill among the playing staff, which has increased by €30.6 million over the last year, needed to be reduced. The board felt the summer sales of Bobby Zamora and John Pantsil to Fulham for €7.7 million represented good business, and insisted there was sound reasoning behind the departures of Anton Ferdinand and George McCartney to Sunderland.

No agreement could be reached with Ferdinand over a new contract, while McCartney wished to return to the north-east for personal reasons and had made a formal transfer request.

Yet it was the latter's sale which convinced Curbishley that he was being undermined, the manager saying he had been assured last week that no more departures would be required.

West Ham's reserve team manager, Kevin Keen, will take over on a caretaker basis, with the board expecting a rush of applicants for the vacant position ahead of the trip to West Bromwich Albion on September 13th.

"We are working hard to bring sustained success to West Ham United," said Gudmundsson.

"Everyone is committed to this common goal. We have a long-term strategy and we will not be deterred."

•Guardian Service

WEST HAM: THE CONTENDERS

SLAVEN BILIC

BILIC IS the current Croatia coach and hot favourite for the West Ham job despite signing a two-year contract in April of this year. He is recognised as the second best national team coach after Dunga of Brazil. Bilic played for West Ham during the 1996-97 season, showing loyalty to the club by helping them battle against relegation despite offers from Joe Royle to lure him to Everton.

SAM ALLARDYCE

ALLARDYCE IS currently a free agent after leaving Newcastle in January. Although he had limited success at the club, he was highly respected during his time managing Bolton between 1999-2007. He is a strong character, very popular in the footballing world, and not afraid of controversy.

HARRY REDKNAPP

REDKNAPP IS another popular character and a very experienced manager. His teams play exciting football and yet he knows how to battle for survival. He currently manages Portsmouth and the summer has seen an influx of exciting players join the club. Redknapp spent seven years in charge at West Ham from 1994-2001.