Journalist Graeme Bailey has delivered a major update on the situation surrounding David Moyes at West Ham.
West Ham’s first win of 2024 came just as speculation over the future of David Moyes was reaching fever pitch.
After beating Brentford 4-2, it was spotted that Moyes headed straight down the tunnel.
The West Ham manager would usually go onto the pitch clapping fans and shaking hands with players.
Then after the game he made it clear he feels the media are to blame for his new contract soap opera.
And he insisted both he and the club’s owners are ‘happy to wait’ until nearer the end of the season.
Journalist’s major update on future of Moyes at West Ham
“Let’s see if we can continue to win in Europe. And let’s see what happens at the end of all that,” Moyes said in an update of sorts on his West Ham future.
Well the Scot may very well have been hinting at something there.
I have spoken exclusively to a journalist with strong sources in the game.
Graeme Bailey says there’s only one way Moyes will still be at West Ham next season.
‘Will Sullivan even still be in charge at West Ham this summer?’
And that is if he wins the Europa League with the Hammers this season.
Bailey has provided an in-depth insight into the situation behind the scenes at the club.
He says majority owner David Sullivan is very much minded to back Tim Steidten in the power struggle with the Hammers manager.
Indeed Bailey even suggests Sullivan’s own future at West Ham is not certain this summer.
“From my understanding a new deal was never that close,” Bailey told Hammers News.
“There’s quite a split in the camp. We’re talking about a manager who was on the brink last season and if he hadn’t have won the European cup he’d have been gone anyway.
Fan power will make owners take notice
“The fact is if you win a European trophy and still don’t get a new contract that’s not a good sign. I don’t think at any point this season it was particularly close.
“Yes you can have disgruntled fans. But I think when the season ticket holders don’t renew or walk away that’s when it will really come to the fore (for the owners). I can see him signing a new deal at the end of the season if there’s no better options.
“But there is going to be a lot of things going on behind the scenes. Will David Sullivan even be in charge next season up top? That’s something that needs to be answered in due course.
‘It’s going to come to a head’
“But with Moyes there’s so many factors off field going against him, I just don’t see how they can do it. David Sullivan likes to keep his counsel. And it will be his decision. But he’s obviously not a happy chappy – and it’s not just about the Arsenal and Forest defeat. Most logical West Ham fans would assume you might struggle in those two games anyway.
“Is he getting the best out of the squad? No. We’ve seen Kalvin Phillips come in and have little impact.
“Let’s not beat around the bush, the off-field issues – and there are off-field issues – David Sullivan’s brought in a technical director in Tim Steidten to make his life easier. And it’s not really made his life easier. And it’s not Tim Steidten’s fault but clearly David Moyes does not want to work with someone – not Tim – but just that he’s an old fashioned manager and doesn’t want to work with a sporting/technical director, especially one who isn’t from his group, his own team.
“It doesn’t take a genius to realise it’s going to come to a head in the summer. Steidten and Moyes won’t both be at West Ham next season, I think that’s fair to say.
Moyes must win the Europa League to stay at West Ham
“West Ham want to push forward. You brought Steidten in for a reason, to push the club on, that foothold in Europe to have the eyes, nose and ears in Europe to sniff out that young talent as well as the big names who he can attract.
“When you appoint someone like that, you have to back them. And we know that Steidten is hoping to have that opportunity to pick the next manager. So time will tell.
“It’s going to take a Europa League victory for David Moyes to even get near a new deal. And unfortunately for him winning the Europa League is going to be slightly more difficult than winning the Conference League. There’s some very, very good teams left in that competition.
“He’s not going to make the change mid-season we know that. As soon as we know the status in Europe we will know from West Ham’s end about Moyes’ future. And we may even be getting a few clues from Steidten’s movements before then.”
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