West Ham United are internally discussing a host of managerial options as serious uncertainty surrounds the long-term future of Graham Potter.
West Ham attempt to quell fan unrest with an official statement
David Sullivan, Karren Brady and the Hammers board are set to be protested against before every Saturday matchday at the London Stadium this season, with the relationship between fans and ownership at boiling point.
Before West Ham departed their beloved Boleyn in favour of a move to their new ground, supporters were promised a new era of transfers, competing for honours and a whole new level. The belief among supporters is that these pledges haven’t been honoured, despite West Ham breaking their transfer record and winning the Europa Conference League in 2023.
To quell unrest, West Ham released a statement earlier this week outlining their plans for the future, which includes much of what has already been said before.
There is a serious case to be made that the Hammers haven’t kicked on from that incredible night in Prague, as evident by their lowly Premier League finishes ever since then, with their Europa League adventure to the semis in 2022 also seeming like a distant memory.
Now, nearly a year after West Ham parted company with Julen Lopetegui, his replacement Potter is facing the potential West Ham sack as well — with Sullivan and co eyeing up potential replacements for the Englishman.
9. Sam Allardyce
30.7%
10. Julen Lopetegui
30%
11. Gianfranco Zola
27.8%
12, Graham Potter
27.3%
13. Avram Grant
18.9%
via StatMuse
Of the candidates to replace Potter, one name has been mentioned regularly in the form of ex-West Ham boss Slaven Bilic.
Bilic is said to be open to a move back to West Ham after departing his most recent managerial role last year, having left Saudi side Al-Fateh, and chairman Sullivan is reportedly in favour of re-appointing the Croatian eight years after he was sacked by the club.
Nuno Espirito Santo is also a top contender, which is unsurprising when you factor in the incredible job he did at Nottingham Forest before a public fallout with controversial owner Evangelos Marinakis.
West Ham talking about appointing Nuno Espírito Santo
This is backed up by very reliable media source Jacob Steinberg, who told The Guardian that Nuno is indeed under consideration by West Ham after he guided Forest back to European football for the first time since 1995.
Other reports suggest that the Portuguese’s priority is to remain in the Premier League, providing West Ham with a significant boost in the race for his signature, and there is every reason to believe Nuno should really be their top choice.
West Ham must appoint Nuno if they sack Graham Potter
We’ve seen fellow free agents like Gary O’Neil and Sean Dyche mentioned too, but Nuno is clearly levels above the pair.
His pragmatic style, while not exactly the ‘West Ham way’, is exactly what the club need right now, having conceded more goals than any other Premier League side so far this season.
Forest were also very vulnerable to set plays until Nuno came in, and West Ham have had similar trouble in that regard under Potter — which comes as yet another reason to go all out for the tactician.
As well as this, Henry Winter brought attention to his excellent man-management in a fiery X post after Forest sacked Nuno in a shocking move.
“Very good man-manager and blender of teams,” Winter began.
“Compassionate, thoughtful man, too, full of strong principles. Nuno’s appointment as head coach is one of the best things to happen to Forest in years. December 2023: Came in, organised team, made the players believe, kept Forest up. 24/25: Won at Anfield, at Old Trafford, thrashed Brighton 7-0, beat Ange’s Spurs home and away, reached third, 3x Manager of the Month, finished seventh, still impressive given widespread pre-season predictions of relegation. Yes, frustration over not holding on for Champions League, that home draw with relegated Leicester so costly. But still qualified for Europe for first time in 30 years. Nuno got the City Ground rocking again.”