West Ham have taken a ludicrous new stance on the sacking of Graham Potter after a leak from a board confidant amid a Hammers media blackout.
Hammers chief David Sullivan has cut off West Ham-related media outlets of late, citing a lack of support amid fan unrest and protests.
But information is still emerging from club sources through certain journalists and outlets.
What has become clear is that Graham Potter is now on borrowed time at West Ham.
After the insipid 3-0 defeat to Spurs, which followed a 5-1 thumping to Chelsea in the home game before, West Ham lost 2-1 to Palace on Saturday.
West Ham fans waiting for Potter sacking
The match was billed a must-not-lose for Potter if he wanted to retain his job.
A number of candidates have been linked with the Hammers over the last week.
Nuno Espirito Santo, ex West Ham boss Slaven Bilic, former Hammers midfielder Gary O’Neil, Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna and Sean Dyche are all said to be on a managerial shortlist to replace Potter.
It looked to be all systems go for Nuno as West Ham fans turned on Potter during the defeat to Palace.
Given the reports ahead of the match about Potter’s future, Hammers fans were expecting to wake up to a club announcement with the infamous corner flag picture.
But there has been radio silence from the Hammers.
Until now.
And a new revelation has left fed-up fans stunned as uncertainty over the manager’s future deepens.
West Ham fans chanted “you don’t know what you’re doing” and “you’re getting sacked in the morning” at Potter during the defeat to Palace.
His inexplicable decision to substitute two of the team’s best players, Mateus Fernandes and Crysencio Summerville, while West Ham were chasing the game was greeted with boos.
West Ham take ludicrous new stance to Potter sacking
Given Julen Lopetegui was sacked after six months having won only six games, Potter can have no complaints if he is axed given he has just six victories himself from 25 matches in nine months.
A baby can be conceived and born in the time Potter has had at West Ham.
So it is not a reach to suggest he should, by now, be getting the team playing to his style and vision.
The manner of the defeat to Spurs was the final straw for many Hammers fans.
But Tomas Soucek’s red card gave Potter a reasonable excuse.
There can be no excuses for how poor West Ham were again in the defeat to Palace, though.
The Hammers have been lining up replacements.
West Ham vice-chair Karren Brady held talks with Nuno Espirito Santo and his representatives this week.
In a further development, former Forest boss Nuno was then pictured near David Sullivan’s Essex mansion after those talks.
Hammers News previously revealed former West Ham manager Slaven Bilic is of interest as Potter’s replacement.
But now West Ham have taken a ludicrous new stance on the Potter sacking after a leak from a board confidant.
Prominent Hammers insider Sean Whetstone has counted Sullivan and Karren Brady among several contacts at the club.
While Sullivan may no longer be speaking directly to West Ham-related media, word has now emerged from Whetstone’s sources about the plan for Potter.
And Hammers supporters are furious with the stance.
Leak suggests real reason for West Ham delay in sacking Potter
Because while it is now inevitable West Ham will be sacking Potter, the club may wait until the October international break to act.
Reading between the lines it seems the reason is because the board don’t want Potter’s replacement to face the very difficult start of back-to-back away games at Everton and Arsenal.
Instead it appears the Hammers are happy to leave Potter to take charge of those games, despite him, the players and fans essentially knowing he will be going.
“Graham Potter is unlikely to be sacked over the coming days but remains under extraordinary pressure after another home loss,” Whetstone said.
“West Ham faces Everton away at the end of September on a Monday night followed by Arsenal away the next Saturday.
“He could yet remain in charge for both of those games while the club explore contingencies should they decide to replace him over the next international break.”
West Ham are extremely vulnerable at set-pieces, as they proved by conceding yet another goal from a corner against Palace.
As a result, many feel two more heavy defeats could be on the cards at sides known for their set-play prowess in the Toffees and Gunners.
So there is a degree of logic to not wanting any new manager to start with two big defeats.
But West Ham can’t afford to beat around the bush and drag their heels with their very survival at stake.
Many supporters will see the delaying of the inevitable as West Ham’s board willingly sacrificing another two games in the battle to stay up.
And make no mistake that’s what West Ham are in for the rest of the season.
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
