David Sullivan is being forced to take decisive action over West Ham’s managerial situation and it’s bringing out a ruthless streak.
Julen Lopetegui is already hanging by a thread at West Ham.
Fans and players are uninspired by the Spaniard and after 13 games it seems the owners are starting to feel the same.
A damning report has emerged in the wake of the dismal 0-0 draw with Everton.
It claimed that Lopetegui has headed back to Spain for a break in the misguided belief his job is safe as the 18th permanent manager of West Ham.
With the Hammers 14th in the table after just three Premier League wins in four months – as well as being out of the Carabao Cup – it’s been claimed Lopetegui has completely misread his situation.
Reports have claimed majority owner David Sullivan will meet technical director Tim Steidten to discuss the Spaniard’s future and how long he is given.
It looks increasingly like the beginning of the end for the 57-year-old, though.
Ruthless West Ham chief Sullivan tells manager to move on
West Ham face in-form Newcastle away after the international break.
The Magpies have won their last three, beating Forest 3-1, Arsenal 1-0 and Chelsea 2-0.
After that Arsenal visit the London Stadium nine months on from their record 6-0 win there last season.
With the way Lopetegui’s side has defended and given up shots on their goal, there are very real fears West Ham could be on the end of two heavy defeats.
That would leave the Hammers firmly in the bottom five or six a third of the way into the league season.
The list of managers being linked as potential replacements grows by the day.
If there really is no smoke without fire, that spells trouble for Lopetegui.
Last week a new West Ham leak briefed journalists that two out of work managers had been put on standby to take over.
It was claimed ‘Hammers chiefs are currently succession planning in case they decide to pull the trigger’ on Lopetegui after Everton.
That was before West Ham played their part in what’s been labelled the worst Premier League game of the season.
Both managers are familiar names and both are – crucially – free agents.
They are Graham Potter and Edin Terzic according to the West Ham leak.
Now ruthless Sullivan tells manager to move on and it all points to one man for West Ham.
According to sources Sullivan has now told Potter to forget the Hammers job.
After deliberations, the ex Chelsea boss has been ruled out of the running.
It all points to one man Edin for West Ham
Potter will not be among the leading candidates to replace Lopetegui if Sullivan and other members of the West Ham hierarchy choose to make a managerial change in the coming weeks, sources of Give Me Sport have claimed.
“GMS sources have been informed that Sullivan will not entertain attempting to lure Potter to West Ham if he feels it is the right time to head in an alternative direction even though he has been heavily linked with being in the frame to succeed Lopetegui following an underwhelming start to his reign,” the report states.
That can mean only one thing for West Ham.
Especially as the other name in the equation has left the door wide open for the Hammers by turning down a huge job opportunity this week.
Former Hammers assistant coach Terzic suddenly became a frontrunner to replace Lopetegui after the thrashing at Spurs a few weeks ago.
German journalist Florian Plettenberg – who counts Steidten among his close contacts – revealed West Ham had put Terzic ‘on standby’ to replace Lopetegui.
Plettenberg also said Terzic was now open to the challenge after rejecting the Hammers back in April as he was unsure of his future in the midst of leading Dortmund to the Champions League final.
Terzic is highly regarded in the corridors of power at West Ham.
He has a good relationship with compatriot Steidten as well as sporting director Mark Noble, who played under him when he was assistant to Slaven Bilic.
Terzic was the brains behind West Ham’s tactics during that magical Farewell Boleyn campaign.
All roads now look like they lead to the 41-year-old with Sullivan ruling out Potter.
But the waiting game may go on until after Newcastle or Arsenal, barring a miraculous turnaround from Lopetegui.
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