West Ham have reportedly set a new date when they are likely to announce Graham Potter’s replacement, but is this the real reason for the delay?
Hammers fans were fully expecting to wake up to an announcement that Graham Potter had been sacked in the wake of the 2-1 home defeat to Crystal Palace.
The game was billed a must-not-lose for Potter to keep his job as West Ham boss.
But the same old frailties were there for all to see again as the Irons lost for the fifth time in six games this season.
Potter has now tasted victory only six times in 25 games as West Ham manager.
His record is the worst since Avram Grant took the Hammers down.
Many fans perplexed by West Ham delay in sacking Potter
For many West Ham fans, the 3-0 loss to Spurs last weekend was the final straw when it comes to Potter.
Palace was seen as last chance saloon for the head coach with his team selection and tactics drawing heavy criticism.
Hammers fans fully turned on Potter during the game with chants of “You don’t know what you’re doing” and “You’re getting sacked in the morning” ringing around the London Stadium.
Karren Brady held talks with Nuno Espirito Santo over the West Ham job this week.
Ex-Nottingham Forest boss Nuno was then pictured near David Sullivan’s Essex mansion after those talks.
Hammers News has also revealed former West Ham boss Slaven Bilic is of interest as Potter’s replacement.
Supporters have been bombarding social media and fan forums to vent their frustration that Potter has not been sacked as yet after the defeat to Palace.
But is this the real reason for West Ham’s reported new date to announce their Potter replacement?
As well as Nuno Espirito Santo and Slaven Bilic, the Hammers have been linked with other out-of-work managers Gary O’Neil and Sean Dyche.
It has been pointed out that sacking Potter now would give a new manager a full eight days until the Hammers go to David Moyes’ Everton.
A board confidant has claimed West Ham’s under-fire owners are holding off sacking Potter for the moment.
It has been stated Potter’s dismissal is almost inevitable.
Real reason for West Ham’s delayed Potter replacement plan?
But the board are reportedly reluctant to have the new manager face difficult back-to-back away games against Everton and Arsenal as their first matches in charge.
As a result, Potter looks set to be sacked in the two-week October international break.
With West Ham extremely vulnerable at set-pieces and both Everton and Arsenal among the best in the Premier League at set-plays, it is certainly a daunting couple of weeks for the east Londoners.
So there is a certain degree of twisted logic to not wanting any new manager to start with two big defeats.
Although if the board feel they are making the right appointment then surely they should believe the new man can get an instant reaction – whoever it may be.
The delaying of the inevitable is seen, understandably, by West Ham fans as the board willingly sacrificing another two games in the battle to stay up.
So could there be more to the reported plans than meet the eye?
Around 4,000 Hammers fans took to the street leading to the director’s entrance for a protest against the board – particularly David Sullivan and Karren Brady – before the Palace defeat.
West Ham’s board will be well aware Hammers United, the fan group leading the protests, have announced that was just the start.
The supporter group wants to lead a season-long campaign of activism to force the owners to step aside or sell up.
Is new Hammers boss timing a ploy to quell Brentford boycott?
As part of that activism, West Ham fans are calling for a boycott of the next home game against Brentford.
That match takes place on Monday October 20th – and it is West Ham’s first game after the international break.
Many fans feel it would be typical board behaviour to sack Potter in the international break, as is being reported, and purposely bring someone in with the Brentford boycott game being their first at the helm.
You can picture it now, messages from the club and the new boss urging supporters to turn out and show their support.
That would undoubtedly work on many supporters too, especially those who may feel conflicted about how a boycott would impact the team.
The fact you can’t put this kind of rationale past the ownership tells you everything you need to know about why West Ham fans are so unhappy with their board.
Another reason could be claims of a new power struggle at West Ham between Sullivan and Brady over the manager change.
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