West Ham’s owners have moved to address claims suggesting a shock return is on the cards for Harry Redknapp amid speculation over the future of Nuno Espirito Santo just three months in.
They say desperate times call for desperate measures – and West Ham are certainly desperate.
Nuno Espirito Santo was only appointed three months ago but rumours are already swirling he could become the latest managerial casualty at West Ham.
The Hammers are on their third manager in less than 12 months and fourth in the space of 18 months.
That very much suggests the problem at West Ham is not the man in the dugout but rather how the club has been run and the quality of the squad.
Defeat to Fulham leaves West Ham six points adrift of safety and staring relegation from the Premier League in the face.
Nuno West Ham sack claims emerge for fourth time in three months
West Ham have their most winnable run of games over the next six weeks, starting with that game against a depleted Fulham at home.
A draw would have been a disappointing result, let alone losing.
Imagine if Nuno were to be sacked…😮
Who would you want West Ham to replace him with and why?
So the pressure has ramped up massively on the next clutch of fixtures – and Nuno.
The Portuguese had already been linked with a West Ham exit three times in his short time at the club ahead of the Fulham game.
West Ham responded to the latest Nuno sack claims after the recent defeat to Man City, insisting they are backing the manager, who was appointed on a three-year deal at the end of September.
The loss to the Cottagers made it seven Premier League games without a win for the Irons under Nuno.
There is no hiding the fact West Ham have not had the kind of bounce most hoped and expected when Nuno was appointed.
Now in the wake of the team’s latest loss, rumours over Nuno’s future have reignited.
There have been widespread claims that Nuno could be sacked amid disappointment over his lack of impact on results.
The rumours came against the backdrop of a Hammers News exclusive that the West Ham board are frustrated with Nuno over transfers ahead of a vital January window opening later this week.
With results faltering and frustration building among supporters, speculation has intensified about potential contingency plans behind the scenes.
The likes of Kieran McKenna and former Hammers managers Slaven Bilic and Harry Redknapp have all been linked as replacements for Nuno in a desperate last ditch bid to turn the sinking ship around.
West Ham owners speak out on Redknapp approach
Now West Ham’s owners have responded on the Redknapp approach claim amid Nuno’s struggles.
The response from the club’s hierarchy offers an insight into how seriously those claims are being taken and whether any drastic change is being considered as pressure continues to mount on them and the manager.
McKenna would be the perfect Nuno replacement…😍
Disagree? Let us know why…
It has been claimed on longstanding West Ham website KUMB that Redknapp has approached West Ham’s board to indicate his availability and willingness to replace Nuno as manager.
The claim went one further to state the Hammers hierarchy are seriously considering Redknapp’s proposal.
Redknapp’s tenure remains one of the best the club has enjoyed in modern times.
The former Hammers winger played entertaining, attacking football and led the club to their best ever Premier League position of fifth as well as the Intertoto Cup.
West Ham make Redknapp return position perfectly clear
Redknapp was sacked for openly criticising then owner Terence Brown over transfers in an interview with a club fanzine.
It is the kind of candid honesty protesting West Ham fans would lap up if a manager spoke out against the current ownership.
Redknapp sullied his name and reputation among many Hammers supporters by going on to take over at bitter rivals Spurs.
But could he really return to east London on a white horse to try and save the Hammers from the dreaded drop?
Hammers News put the Redknapp return claim to the top spokesman for West Ham’s owners.
The senior Hammers spokesman did not deny Redknapp had offered his services and put on record that majority owner David Sullivan is a big fan.
But there was an emphatic response on the possibility of it actually happening.
“There is no truth to Harry Redknapp returning,” the top spokesman for West Ham’s owners exclusively told Hammers News.
“David Sullivan loves Harry BUT that is absolutely not happening.”
Opening up on the club’s situation, the Hammers board spokesman conceded the outlook is growing increasingly concerning and signings will be needed to turn things around while bemoaning a lack of luck.
“Agreed (relegation starting to look a real possibility), we look like we need to pull a few rabbits out of the hat in the January window and we are getting no luck in games,” the West Ham spokesman added.
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