Former Hammers hero Joe Cole has called on David Sullivan to take West Ham to the next level after hearing stars are coming.
When it comes to support, West Ham are one of the biggest clubs in Europe nevermind England.
The Hammers were named in a UEFA report as part of their “1 million crowd club” earlier this season.
Just 16 clubs feature in the elite group and West Ham are among them.
The group factors in capacity and a percentage filled of capacity for all games from league to domestic cups and European competition.
Then factor in that West Ham are officially the 17th richest club in world football in terms of income, as revealed by Deloitte.
West Ham have all the building blocks for success
Throw in that the Hammers have the third wealthiest owners in the Premier League thanks to the combined net worth of £13bn man Daniel Kretinsky and majority owner David Sullivan.
West Ham also have the London factor in their favour.
There has even been recent success with the club winning its first trophy for 43 years less than two years ago.
It paints a picture of a club built to be able to sustain, at the very least, competitiveness if not repeated success.
The Europa Conference League victory should have been the platform for West Ham to show they really are massive.
Instead the club has regressed since that unforgettable night in Prague.
Joe Cole calls on David Sullivan to take West Ham to next level
West Ham were ill prepared to evolve their squad to maintain the standards that had seen them consistently compete with the top six or seven.
When the Hammers did try to revamp it was reactive rather than proactive, making a raft of signings and shipping out a host of players in a 21-player overhaul.
That rarely, if ever, works.
For West Ham it certainly hasn’t.
This season has been a write off for some time.
West Ham have little left to play for.
But for new manager Graham Potter it is an ideal scenario in many ways.
He can decide who he wants to keep around in the summer. Potter can instil his methods, style of play and approach in what is essentially a five-month pre-season.
Cole: Hammers have stars coming and perfect manager
He can identify what areas need strengthening, what young players can possibly step up next to follow Ollie Scarles.
It is rare a manager will find themselves in such a position.
But it will bring with it pressure and expectation next season as West Ham look to get back competing for the European spots in the Premier League.
The summer window will be crucial.
There has been a lot of talk about West Ham’s financial position ahead of any Potter revamp.
West Ham admit the summer transfer budget will be ‘minimal’.
They concede they must ‘be creative’ for deals. Players will have to be sold to raise funds with Mohammed Kudus and – if cleared of spot-fixing – Lucas Paqueta the most likely.
That has led to frustration among fans and doubts West Ham will be back competing for Europe again any time soon.
West Ham told not to waste Bowen years
Jarrod Bowen won’t be going anywhere and will be eyeing becoming West Ham’s leading Premier League goalscorer next season.
Now one former Hammers star has laid it on the line to the owners.
Joe Cole has called on Sullivan and co to take West Ham to next level after hearing stars are coming.
Hammers Academy graduate Cole remains very close with sporting director Mark Noble and others at the club such as Carlton Cole.
Noble acts as the bridge between the Academy and first team as part of his role.
So Cole will be well informed about the goings-on at West Ham.
Speaking during coverage of West Ham’s win over Leicester, Cole has urged the owners not to waste having Bowen in his peak years.
The former midfielder says the board must get quality around him.
‘Now is the time’ Cole tells West Ham board
And he believes a revolution could be coming with a host of top young talent emerging and the perfect manager in place to make the best of it.
“There’s been links to your Liverpool’s and Arsenal’s and I’m sure others would be queueing up to get him (Bowen) after what he’s done,” Cole said on TNT Sports.
“So you have got to capitalise on that West Ham (having Bowen leading the team in his peak years).
“We talk about this club going on to the next level.
“Well there’s a group of young players (coming through) underneath Jarrod between the bracket of (under) 15s/16s to Under 20.
“You’ve got a manager who can nurture players. You’ve got a club with recent success.
“Now is the time to get some players around him (Bowen) who can help him.
“Help the squad, build and go to the next level.
“And I think it’s important that the club capitalise on that – the owners, the recruitment staff and the manager.”
Some believe in order for the Hammers to go the next level, a very different course of action is needed.
Earlier this season Ray Parlour told Sullivan to sell West Ham so the club can fulfil its Champions League potential.
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