David Sullivan has taken the decision to stop speaking to West Ham related media but a major new statement on Graham Potter suggests a Sky Sports man is still in the loop.
West Ham chief David Sullivan made a massive decision following the vote of no confidence from the club’s Fan Advisory Board.
Sullivan decided to withdraw from speaking to any West Ham-related media about club matters as he did not feel they were supporting him enough in the face of fan criticism.
The under-fire Hammers chief is smarting as fans prepare to protest against him, Karren Brady and the board ahead of the game against Crystal Palace.
Supporters organising the rally, which will see them line the streets leading to the director’s entrance, have vowed it is just the start.
Sullivan cuts off West Ham-related media
Plans are afoot for a season-long campaign of protests and boycotts until Sullivan and Brady make significant changes at the top of the club by stepping aside or selling up.
Before his West Ham media blackout, Sullivan said he does not feel protests help anyone.
Well Hammers fans feel they will certainly help get their point across.
The club have tried to play on a narrative that protests do not help the team or Graham Potter, who are struggling on the pitch after a dismal start to the new season.
But even Graham Potter has warned David Sullivan about the West Ham fan protests ahead of what is being billed as a must-win game against Crystal Palace.
Sullivan used to regularly speak on the record in interviews with the mainstream football media, but stepped back from those interactions due to fan criticism.
Now it seems Sullivan may still be speaking to Sky Sports man after a major new statement on Potter.
Regardless of what is going on above and around him in east London, there is no hiding Potter is a man under pressure.
West Ham have won just six of the 24 games he has taken charge of since replacing Julen Lopetegui in January.
Only two of those wins have come at home, where there is a massive disconnect between the fans and the team.
Sullivan clearly still speaking to Sky Sports man after major new Potter statement
Many Hammers fans feel the appointment of Potter will be yet another black mark against Sullivan and the board.
Potter himself thinks he is the man to turn West Ham around.
But a strongly-worded update from Sky Sports’ chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol suggests his time may be running out.
Solhekol has quoted Sullivan on the record on certain matters in the past and counts him as a close contact.
So his update on Potter suggests Sullivan may still be briefing the reporter as he gives the owners’ perspective, revealing the ‘board are not happy’.
And it is looking bleak for the Hammers boss based on Solhekol’s information.
“Look, there’s no getting away from it, he really is under pressure going into this game against Crystal Palace on Saturday,” Solhekol said on Sky Sports’ Premier League Show.
“I think the owners really want to see a reaction.
“They’ve had two home games this season, against Chelsea and Spurs, and they’ve conceded eight goals.
“They’ve got the worst defence in the Premier League at the moment and they’re on a terrible run of form in the Premier League, I think they’ve only won three of their last 15 games across the two seasons.”
Solhekol then pointed out that Julen Lopetegui only last six months before being sacked after winning just six games in that time and that Potter has only managed six wins from more matches in charge.
Sky Sports’ leading reporter then reiterated just how huge Palace is for Potter but painted a grim picture of his future beyond that game too.
Solhekol paints bleak picture of Potter’s future
Perhaps tellingly, when Solhekol mentioned the protests he did not make it clear they are specifically against the owners.
“They’ve got this big game at home against Palace on Saturday, fans are going to be demonstrating outside the ground before the game, Palace are unbeaten – they’ve got the best unbeaten record in the Premier League at the moment.
“After this crucial game against Palace, it doesn’t get any easier because they’re away at Everton, against their former manager David Moyes, after that, in the last game before the international break – they’re away at Arsenal.
“So things really, really need to change. The fans are not happy, the board are not happy and we heard from Potter himself and he’s hurting, just like everybody else.”
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