West Ham mark their 130th anniversary this year and have just appointed only their 19th manager in that time as Graham Potter replaces Julen Lopetegui.
It is notable then that three of them have been and gone in the 18 months that Tim Steidten has been at West Ham.
There was the messy falling out with David Moyes before his departure.
Moyes banned Steidten from the training ground towards the end of his tenure.
But that had come after the Scot refused to sign a new deal which stated Steidten would take over full control of recruitment.
There were claims Julen Lopetegui was not Steidten’s choice in the summer.
If that is the case it certainly showed recently.
Lopetegui criticised Steidten when his job was under pressure in November.
The Spaniard said he could not implement his style with the players Steidten had signed.
Steidten was once again not welcome at the training ground after a falling out with Lopetegui.
Potter’s revealing response to blunt Steidten question
The truth behind the Lopetegui and Steidten bust-up was revealed earlier this week.
Now he has gone and been replaced by Graham Potter. It comes after a picture emerged of Potter having talks with Steidten – which was believed to have been secretly taken at the Leicester game last month.
The German technical director dubbed ‘the pearl diver’ has endured a rollercoaster time in east London.
Hailed a hero for bringing in the likes of Mohammed Kudus and Edson Alvarez in his first window, West Ham fans even had their own terrace chant for Steidten.
‘Timmy Steidten’s magic’ rang out on concourses up and down the country.
Hailed as a key figure in the rise of Bayer Leverkusen, it felt like West Ham had a gem in the boardroom, someone who really knew what he was doing when it came to recruitment.
Steidten declared his ‘euphoria’ at having full control at West Ham following the departure of Moyes.
He also said he sees the Hammers as a five-year project – which he is only just over 18 months into.
Now, though, it seems his own stay could be cut short.
The likes of Guardian journalist Jacob Steinberg and The Athletic’s David Ornstein have both stated their sources have indicated West Ham are increasingly unhappy with Steidten over his transfer record.
New Hammers boss sends clear message to Steidten
They claim Steidten could be next to leave and state that if he stays the German ‘could be sidelined’.
Inevitably, that working relationship was put to Potter in his first Hammers press conference.
And Potter’s response to a blunt Steidten question at West Ham is very revealing.
Potter was asked a very straight question: ‘Will you be happy to work with Tim Steidten, who has had a very difficult relationship with the last two managers?’
His response could certainly be interpreted as a subtle dig at the technical director.
It was certainly a clear message to Steidten about what he expects from everyone at West Ham.
Because Potter made it clear he only wants people around if they are all pulling in the same direction.
‘It becomes very difficult’
“I’m looking forward to working with the staff here at the club, there will be lots of talented people here I’m sure,” Potter said in response in his first West Ham press conference.
“Part of our approach is to be collaborative, to work together. As I said we need everybody to be pulling in the same direction, we need to be aligned.
“We need to use the resources we have. In the Premier League there’s lots of good players, lots of good coaches. Top, top, top everywhere.
“So unless you’re together, unless you’re moving forward together, it becomes very difficult.
“So that’s the challenge.”
Shots fired at Steidten there from the new boss it seems.
Potter is right too.
This structure with Steidten controlling the football operation in totality was never going to work.
Majority owner David Sullivan has taken back ultimate control on transfers.
But Steidten’s influence, unless he gets on board with Potter, is one the wane it seems.
And it may not be long until it comes to an end altogether.
Before he was appointed Hammers News suggested Potter could be reunited with a high profile sporting director he is close to on arriving in east London.
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