Nuno Espirito Santo is pleading with the West Ham United supporters to get behind the team ahead of a planned protest during Monday’s Premier League clash with London rivals Brentford.
Since taking over from the unpopular Graham Potter at the end of September, the former Wolves, Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest coach has placed plenty of emphasis on turning the London Stadium into a much happier home environment for an underachieving squad.
West Ham United have won only five matches on their own soil since the start of last season, after all.
And, by beating Brentford on Monday, Nuno Espirito Santo will move to within one of Potter’s miserable tally of two East London victories.
No wonder the club’s latest head coach – one-time Upton Park chief Sam Allardyce knows the importance of winning over the West Ham fans – is determined to get off to a flying start on his home debut.
Nuno Espirito Santo makes pre-Brentford plea to West Ham United fans
Over 4,000 fans protested against David Sullivan and Karren Brady during their last match at this stadium. The 2-1 defeat by Crystal Palace which proved to be Potter’s last in charge.
The Hammers United supporters group are planning to boycott the upcoming Brentford clash, too.
But, while Nuno can understand the frustration felt by a fanbase who have watched their team slide down the table, he still hopes to see around 60,000 claret and blue bodies in full voice come kick-off time.
“For me, it is very hard to analysis what has happened before [I was appointed]. What I’m doing is trying to improve,” Nuno said during his Friday press conference.
“The home factor is really important. It is up to us now to go closer to the fans, to make them support and help us so we can change everything and [so the London Stadium] become a real fortress.
“I hope that all our fans can join and help us facing Brentford, because it’s going to be very tough,” the 51-year-old added when asked specifically about that planned boycot.
“It is up to us now to give back to the fans, so that they can come closer and support us.
“We, as a group and as a squad, we try to ignore and focus on the tasks; perform, compete, and play well, so the fans can be there [cheering us on].”
West Ham supporters group call for Karren Brady and David Sullivan to go
Hammers United penned an open letter to Nuno a few days ago, informing him of their ongoing campaign against the board while ‘calling for the resignations of Karren Brady and David Sullivan’.
The supporters group were also at pains to point out that the fury is not aimed at the coaching staff, or indeed a squad of players who should be performing at a much higher standard, while arguing that the proverbial fish rots from the head down.
“This campaign was not aimed at your predecessors, it is not aimed at you and your team, and we would like to take this opportunity to make it absolutely clear that you have our full support,” the statement read.
“The decision to hold a boycott was not taken lightly, but we believe that given the serious nature of the damage that will continue to be inflicted on our club while Ms Brady and Mr Sullivan remain in place, it is a necessary and justifiable step that must be taken.
“We are already seeing signs that Ms Brady and Mr Sullivan are extremely worried, and that pressure is being brought to bear in a variety of different ways, as they attempt to entice fans to break ranks and attend the game.
“We expect this to escalate as the day of the game approaches, and we have no doubt that Ms Brady and Mr Sullivan would not hesitate to take any measures designed to disrupt the boycott, including those which would sow division among the fans, and division between the fans and the team.
“We believe it is right and proper that the fans are able to make their protest, and that the players are able to do their work on the pitch unencumbered by the machinations of Ms Brady and Mr Sullivan as they attempt to, for want of a better expression, save face.
“There is, of course, one simple way to bring about an early conclusion to all of this, and that is for Ms Brady and Mr Sullivan to resign, and for the remaining board of directors to appoint competent and professional replacements.
“In the meantime, you, your coaching staff, and your players can rest assured that you have our full support, even if, for one game only, that support will be in spirit rather than in the flesh.
“We hope that you will all appreciate what we, as fans of West Ham United, reluctantly find ourselves having to do, and share our hopes that this club will soon be able to live up to its full potential. We desperately want all of you to be a part of a thriving football club and to share in the success we all deserve.”
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
