Since sacking Tim Steidten, West Ham have been mulling – and linked with – appointing a new director.
West Ham sent Tim Steidten packing last month, blaming the German for his part in the club’s botched £155m overhaul last summer.
The Hammers said it was it was “time for Tim to pursue new opportunities”.
Well he could soon rock up at London rivals Crystal Palace as their new director of football to replace Dougie Freeman.
In many ways Freedman would be a great fit for West Ham right now.
He has a proven track record of identifying and signing young talent who go on to star and make the club millions.
West Ham have been mulling replacements for Steidten
But that shipped has sailed with Freedman widely expected to take up a new job in Saudi.
The question still remains as to whether West Ham will appoint a new technical director – or in other words a Director of Football.
David Sullivan is West Ham’s de facto deal-maker once again following Steidten’s departure.
He has twice appointed what is essentially a director of football in Mario Husillos and then Steidten.
And both times Sullivan has had his fingers burned.
Husillos’ big-money splurge during Manuel Pellegrini’s spell saw him and the Chilean manager sacked when things did not go according to plan – much like Steidten and Julen Lopetegui.
Ahead of a huge summer window for the Hammers under their new manager Graham Potter and with new head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay on board, Sullivan faces a big decision.
Speaking to Hammers News earlier this month, West Ham’s owners did not rule out replacing Steidten.
But the club’s hierarchy insisted ‘we’re a happy ship at the moment’.
Macaulay is very much a talent identifier working alongside Potter.
But while West Ham will be hoping his recruitment planning is superior to Steidten’s, he is not the one to actually go out there and get deals done.
Whatever your stance on Steidten, there is no denying that is clearly where he excels.
After the German ‘pearl diver’ departed the club, West Ham identified potential Steidten replacements ‘in England and overseas’.
Significant Director of Football update for West Ham
Now a significant Director of Football update has emerged for West Ham after a major twist.
One name reportedly in the club’s thinking has been Dan Ashworth.
The former Man United and Newcastle director of football worked with Potter and Macauley at Brighton.
Telegraph journalist Matt Law claimed last month that Sullivan and the Hammers board have been deliberating whether to appoint a replacement for Steidten.
Football correspondent Graeme Bailey then claimed Ashworth was a possibility for West Ham dependent on one major caveat.
That Sullivan took a big backwards step to allow him the freedom to work he has enjoyed at previous clubs.
West Ham recently stated via club insiders that appointing Ashworth might prove too expensive even if they wanted to, citing it as a ‘significant overhead’.
Major Ashworth twist ends West Ham links
Well that particular dilemma looks set to be solved for Sullivan and co.
Although it does raise another big question as worrying glances are cast towards south London.
Sky Sports News’ senior reporter Rob Dorsett is reporting that Ashworth is now in line for a shock return to the FA, three months after his Man United exit.
Dorsett has confirmed other national media reports that discussions are ongoing about the possibility of Ashworth going back to the FA and taking on a role delivering the huge redevelopment of the National Football Centre at St George’s Park, whilst also overseeing the structure of England’s junior teams, the “pathway” to the senior team, and coach development.
The FA are refusing to comment on the reports about Ashworth, who has been linked with Arsenal as well as the Hammers.
While that will rule Ashworth out of the conversation for West Ham, it also begs a bigger question.
What is the plan for the structure at West Ham moving forward?
Sullivan can’t afford wrong call over Steidten replacement
It all seems very piecemeal at the moment.
The Hammers cannot afford any mistakes this summer. The club must get deals done at good value – both in and out.
As the cut and thrust of the transfer window really starts to get going at the end of the season into June, West Ham may regret not having someone in place to help with recruitment and deals.
Sullivan may divide opinion among fans.
But is it really fair, wise or indeed even the way forward – to rely on a 76-year-old man to handle that level of non-stop daily pressure?
One of the key factors to Steidten’s success in getting deals over the line was that he would jump on a plane at a moment’s notice to hold in-person negotiations and talks.
Sullivan isn’t going to want or be able to do that all summer.
Ashworth being taken out of the picture might give West Ham an easy decision to make.
But will it prove to be the right one?
It’s all well and good being a ‘happy ship’ now, outside of the mayhem of a transfer window.
What about when the ship hits choppy waters and the manager isn’t getting his first choice targets?
It’s a crucial decision.
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