Graham Potter has moved to calm fears over West Ham’s crucial summer rebuild by insisting the club is in safe hands following Tim Steidten’s departure.
There is a certain irony on reflection of West Ham’s standout players in this most dismal of seasons.
Jettisoned technical director Tim Steidten went from hero to zero at West Ham and back again in the space of just 18 months.
West Ham fans had yearned for their club to be more professional and strategic in the transfer market by employing a specialist.
Initially the plan, by his own admission, was for Hammers legend Mark Noble to play a big role in that aspect of the club.
Hence his title of sporting director.
But he quickly – and with trademark Noble honesty – realised that world was not necessarily for him.
Steidten’s deal-making qualities at West Ham undeniable
It requires worldwide connections and contacts and to be ready to tread on the heads of others to get what you want and need for your club.
That is simply not in Noble’s character.
While still having an input on signings, Noble moved to a role focusing on being a bridge between the Hammers Academy and first team.
In came Steidten, who arrived with excellent work at Bayer Leverkusen and Werder Bremen on his CV.
So supporters were understandably excited.
The German was hailed a hero by many West Ham fans for bringing the likes of Mohammed Kudus to the club with weeks of his arrival.
Steidten quickly earned a reputation as a shrewd deal maker. When he gets on the private jet, there was usually only one outcome Hammers fans used to say.
Steidten even had his own terrace chant among the Hammers faithful.
But after falling out with David Moyes and Julen Lopetegui, Steidten was sidelined ahead of the January window with the club’s owners unhappy at how £155m was spent last summer.
There is a certain irony as the season draws to a close that many of West Ham’s better players were brought in on Steidten’s watch.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Max Kilman have been two of the team’s best players along with Jarrod Bowen.
Crysencio Summerville is an exciting capture who looked set for lift off under Graham Potter until his injury.
Jean-Clair Todibo has also looked class and there is excitement about what he will bring to the team after a proper pre-season.
The signings of Niclas Fullkrug and Luis Guilherme are said to be two of the deals which saw Steidten axed.
Potter says West Ham in safe hands after Steidten exit
Yet Hammers fans are now loving Fullkrug and feel he will make a huge difference once fully fit and firing – whenever that might be.
Even Guilherme has started to impress in cameos, suggesting he may not end up being the flop many have painted him to be.
It has left some supporters wondering whether Steidten really was all that bad.
One thing is for certain, the man knew how to get transfer deals over the line.
Steidten has been linked with the likes of Crystal Palace since leaving West Ham.
Many Hammers fans have expressed concern at David Sullivan being back at the transfer helm again.
Especially given what is at stake this summer as the club stands at a major crossroads for the future with a sizeable rebuild needed.
But West Ham are in safe hands for a pivotal summer after Steidten’s exit says Potter.
Potter hypes up West Ham’s new recruitment guru Macaulay
Because his new head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay is already well aware of what’s required.
And Potter claims talent spotter Macaulay, who has worked with him at all his clubs, is loving life at West Ham and knows what type of player fans want.
The Hammers boss also claims Sullivan and the board have been very supportive of his and Macaulay’s transfer plans.
“Kyle has settled in really well,” Potter told The Athletic after promising fans an exciting summer window.
“He enjoys working here and has a strong feel for the club like we all have.
“He understands what we’re trying to do.
“We’ve had great support from the board so it’s been really positive.
“We’ll work together to find the right solutions.”
There is no playing down the task the Hammers face in six weeks’ time.
West Ham standing at crossroads for club’s future
West Ham’s squad is the oldest in the Premier League and is on course to end the season as the worst performing outside the bottom three.
There simply must be wholesale changes if the club are serious about competing in the top half of the league again, let alone for Europe.
Sullivan and co are fortunate that FIFA’s Club World Cup has resulted in a mammoth summer transfer window, essentially stretching over three months.
In a normal year, domestic deals can be done from mid-June with international deals not permitted until July.
There was also a vote on potentially closing the Premier League window three weeks earlier than normal this summer.
But that was laughed out of the room.
And it means West Ham have three months – and no excuses – to reshape their squad and avoid any repeat of the last 18 months of underachievement which has resulted in just 13 wins in the last 51 Premier League games.
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