Sources have revealed a disagreement between West Ham owner David Sullivan and Tim Steidten and it can mean only one thing.
After making the ultimate call on appointing Julen Lopetegui as West Ham’s new manager and signing off on a £155m summer spend, David Sullivan is feeling conflicted.
The Hammers’ majority owner is under pressure to act.
West Ham are perilously close to the relegation zone.
Half-time of Saturday’s game against Arsenal will be exactly a third of the way through the Premier League season.
Defeats to Newcastle and the Gunners could leave West Ham in the bottom three.
It is a million miles away from where fans, media and the owners thought the Irons would be this season.
Lopetegui was tasked with getting West Ham back into Europe.
His contract was even built around it.
The Spaniard was handed a two-year deal with a third year automatically triggered by any kind of qualification for a UEFA competition.
It is fair to say things have not worked out so far.
A growing number of Hammers fans have showed their displeasure with the manager.
Burned Sullivan’s shocking Steidten snub at West Ham
Thousands of supporters have left early in six of Lopetegui’s 13 games in charge.
There have been just three league wins, two of which were extremely fortunate against Palace and Man United.
Every week it seems head coach is pleading to be judged in May.
This week was no different with Lopetegui telling Sullivan two players will transform West Ham.
If reports are to be believed West Ham have given the manager two games to save his job.
Although the reality is understood to be slightly different.
Lopetegui is not the only one under pressure, though.
Technical director Tim Steidten is under the microscope too.
The German’s transfer dealings have been criticised and it’s been reported his job could be on the line should West Ham’s shambolic season unravel further.
It was claimed a couple of months ago that Steidten warned Sullivan off appointing Lopetegui.
West Ham manager change drama as Steidten pushes Terzic
But a spokesman for the club insisted Steidten played his part in selecting the former Wolves boss.
Now a new claim has been made by sources which can mean only one thing.
Burned Sullivan’s shocking Steidten snub amid the West Ham manager change drama has been revealed.
Give Me Sport sources claim meetings did take place between Sullivan and Steidten over the manager situation during the international break.
But extraordinarily, the pair are at odds over what to do next.
According to the site’s sources, Steidten is seriously pushing his ‘close ally’ Edin Terzic to take over from Lopetegui.
Steidten has told Sullivan Terzic is the right man to take on the task of guiding West Ham back into European contention while there’s still time.
But Sullivan is not entirely convinced by Steidten’s recommendation.
As a result Terzic is not a certainty to be handed the West Ham job.
Instead Sullivan is keeping his options open and will look at other candidates if he decides to axe Lopetegui at all.
It will leave West Ham fans – and probably Steidten too – wondering why he is in charge of the football operation if his opinion counts for so little.
It all points to one thing, Lopetegui remaining in charge for the foreseeable future. And perhaps Steidten growing completely disillusioned with his role at West Ham.
Steidten was said to have wanted Terzic back in April when candidates were being interviewed to replace Moyes.
But he was busy leading Dortmund to the Champions League final and was unsure if he was staying.
Steidten is also said to have pushed for young Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler.
But West Ham have since confirmed they felt appointing the 31-year-old was too big a risk.
Earlier this month, we looked at seven reasons Terzic would be perfect for the Hammers.
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