A top journalist has hit back at a close ally of David Sullivan over claims of unrest surrounding Nuno Espirito Santo as tensions continue to rise at West Ham.
The public rebuttal has added fresh fuel to an already volatile situation, underlining how divided narratives are emerging around West Ham’s head coach at a time when unity is increasingly hard to find in east London.
West Ham are already a club divided.
Hammers fans will be continuing their season-long campaign of protests against the club’s owners with David Sullivan and Karren Brady bearing the brunt of their ire.
But that is not the only divide at the London Stadium if recent reports are to be believed.
Journalist hits back at Sullivan ally over Nuno unrest claims
Guardian journalist Jacob Steinberg, a West Ham supporter with strong contacts in and around the club, has been reporting tales of serious unrest in the Hammers camp between the players and Nuno Espirito Santo as well as between the owners and the head coach.
The West Ham board took a strong stance against claims the players dislike Nuno when approached about Steinberg’s revelations.
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However, Steinberg was not the only one reporting on dismay and disarray behind the Irons curtain.
Midlands football reporter Tom Collomosse said Nuno could jump before he is pushed by West Ham for the Wolves job, should it become available.
He also reported that Nuno has been sulking from the start at West Ham over the failure to appoint his backroom team.
Steinberg published more claims which suggest Nuno is on the brink at West Ham as the journalist stated Sullivan is deeply unhappy with the Portuguese and is considering wielding the axe.
It all feels like the beginning of the end for Nuno at the club.
Especially with the hopeless Hammers eight points adrift of Premier League safety with just 17 games left to play.
There is a sense of deja vu after similar stories of unrest and in-fighting emerged towards the end of the tenures of David Moyes, Tim Steidten, Julen Lopetegui and Graham Potter.
Hammers source rubbishes Nuno claims from journalists
Now the top journalist has hit back at a top Sullivan ally over the Nuno unrest claims as tensions rise at West Ham.
In the wake of the damning claims from Steinberg and Collomosse about Nuno, his situation and his standing within the club, Hammers insider Sean Whetstone spoke to his top source at West Ham.
Taking to X, Whetstone revealed his Hammers source ‘rubbished’ the journalists claims, with the source accusing them of ‘flying a kite’ with their stories, stating they are ‘not true’.
“A club source has rubbished recent reports claiming Nuno Espirito Santo is on the verge of being sacked,” Whetstone said.
“One of those reports claims the board are unhappy with Nuno, who they claim is considering a return to Wolves.
“The report claims the board were baffled by the manager who was seen shaking hands and hugging Nottingham Forest players after the recent 2-1 Premier League loss.
“The club source immediately dismissed these claims by saying: “It’s not true, so this mole is wrong, it’s him flying a kite!”
But Steinberg took offence to his report being labelled untrue, responding by suggesting his information comes from more than one reliable source.
Steinberg insists his Nuno West Ham claims are ‘accurate’
“If the best you can do is rubbish accurate reports maybe you need more than one top London Stadium club source,” Steinberg said.
If anything sums up the mess West Ham are in, it is this very public airing of the club’s dirty linen.
Fans want to know what is going on behind the scenes of course – it is all part of the entertainment.
But many clearly wish things were handled with more professionalism and class, particularly as the Hammers have never needed to be more united if they are to have any hope of survival.
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