David Sullivan and Julen Lopetegui.
David Sullivan and Julen Lopetegui.
If it wasn’t already obvious that Julen Lopetegui is on the brink at West Ham then it will be after the actions of a top David Sullivan ally.
Speculation is rife that Julen Lopetegui is on the verge of being sacked by West Ham.
The Premier League clash at Leicester City was billed a must-win.
It was certainly a ‘must not lose’ after the club’s owners described the match as “massive” following the shambolic 5-2 defeat to Arsenal.
West Ham majority owner David Sullivan had been enthused by the 2-0 win at Newcastle last week.
But the longstanding football club owner has been in the game long enough to know one swallow a summer does not make.
Sullivan wanted proof West Ham had truly turned a corner.
Back-to-back defeats against Arsenal and lowly Leicester – with eight goals conceded – has provided plenty of evidence to the contrary.
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The last time Lopetegui faced an alleged “must win” game was Everton at home before the international break last month.
The Hammers drew 0-0 in a match labelled the worst the Premier League has seen this season.
Julen Lopetegui, Manager of West Ham United, interacts with Konstantinos Mavropanos of West Ham United during the Premier League match between Leic...
Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images
Top Sullivan ally launches Lopetegui poll
After meetings with technical director Tim Steidten, Sullivan – who is always reluctant to sack managers mid-season – elected to give the Spaniard more time.
Many would say Sullivan and the board – who are reportedly split over Lopetegui – have been more than fair with the 58-year-old.
Especially given the expectations for the season vs the reality.
The target was Europe and the reality is turning into a potential relegation battle after just four wins in 14 league games.
Only two teams have conceded more goals than the Hammers, who are on course to break last season’s top flight club record 74 goals shipped.
Leicester were atrocious. Yet they still managed to lead West Ham 3-0 before securing a 3-1 win.
The club’s hardcore support turned on the manager at the King Power.
Chants of ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’ rang out.
Now a top Sullivan ally has launched a Lopetegui poll and it can mean only one thing at West Ham.
David Sullivan and Julen Lopetegui.
Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images
Vote can mean only one thing at West Ham
Sean Whetstone is one of the top Hammers insiders around.
West Ham fans who have been around long enough will know that he counts Sullivan and vice-chair Karren Brady among his close contacts at the club.
Whetstone often gauges fan opinion on social media with polls.
Many believe – rightly or wrongly – that the supporter votes are fed back to the owners.
Overnight Whetstone posted a poll about Lopetegui.
Usually that can mean only one thing as it is often seen as a pre-cursor to imminent action being taken by the Hammers hierarchy.
If that is the case then it’s seriously bad news for Lopetegui.
Because the results are absolutely damning.
After midnight Whetstone uploaded a poll on X titled ‘Julen Lopetegui’.
It gave fans three options:
Sack him now
Review at end of December
Review at end of season
Fan poll is damning for Lopetegui
The poll has already had nearly 6,000 votes at the time of writing.
While anyone can click on the vote, the vast majority of Whetstone’s 51,000 following of his ‘West Ham Football’ account will be Hammers supporters.
So it gives an accurate read on what the supporters are thinking.
And – at the time of writing – over 83 per cent think Sullivan should sack Lopetegui now.
Just over nine per cent said to review his position at the end of the month.
The rest feel he should be left in charge for the remainder of the season.
It’s a stretch to suggest the club will base their decision on the outcome of one fan poll.
But if Sullivan does take any notice of fan opinion, then the results speak volumes.
Although the chants of the away fans – the club’s most loyal and dedicated supporters – towards the manager has already made their feelings abundantly clear.
Lopetegui responded to those chants after West Ham’s dismal defeat.
West Ham owners have also ominously responded to what they saw last night.
Now it remains to be seen what action, either way, is taken in the coming hours and days.