West Ham fans furious at the club’s decision to stand by Julen Lopetegui for the Wolves game will be delighted by news from four different journalists.
It’s fair to say most West Ham fans went to bed in a rotten mood last night.
Well this morning that Hammers-induced headache might be eased.
There has been outrage among supporters this week.
West Ham fans turned on manager Julen Lopetegui during the 3-1 defeat at Leicester.
As the old football adage goes, when you lose the away supporters it’s the beginning of the end.
With the Irons down in 14th place, closer to the bottom three than the top six, it’s easy to see why the Hammers faithful have lost patience.
The fanbase is not seeing anything on the pitch to suggest the manager knows what he wants or what he is doing.
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There’s nothing indicating West Ham’s players understand – or are capable of doing – what Lopetegui is asking of them either.
Throw in the fact yet more stories have emerged of bust-ups between Lopetegui and star players and West Ham’s owners had surely seen their decision made easy.
A board summit was held and most of the reporting around it was that an announcement was due on Friday, with West Ham leaning in favour of sacking the 58-year-old.
A plethora of replacements were being linked and shortlists were being named and debated.
It all seemed to be edging towards the corner flag announcement the vast majority want to see.
As the day went on, though, the narrative slowly changed.
By mid-afternoon it emerged West Ham were sticking by Lopetegui by giving him another chance in the new “must win” game against Wolves on Monday night.
Sergio Conceicao of FC Porto during the match between Sporting CP and FC Porto for the Portuguese Cup Final. Inset, Edin Terzic, Massimiliano Allegri and Graham Potter.
Photo by Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images
Epic Lopetegui twist West Ham fans will love
It has been pointed out that a win over what is currently the worst team in the Premier League will prove little about Lopetegui or the team.
Many Hammers fans have labelled the owners spineless for failing to axe Lopetegui.
But there’s an epic twist as four journalists make a new Lopetegui claim West Ham fans will love.
Sam Wallace, Jason Burt and Matt Law are among the Telegraph’s most reliable and well informed reporters.
They are the Holy Trinity of that title’s football news.
As the dust settled on the news David Sullivan and co were sticking by Lopetegui for now, many Hammers fans tuned away from West Ham-related news in disgust.
As a result many may have missed a huge update overnight from that trio and another well known football correspondent, Pete O’Rourke.
It will put a spring in the step of disgruntled supporters today.
Because the Telegraph trio and O’Rourke claim West Ham have not actually decided to stick with Lopetegui at all. In fact they’ve only done so by default.
It’s suggested the ex Wolves boss is still likely to be sacked regardless of the result against his old club.
It has emerged, according to the quartet of journalists, that the Hammers hierarchy are merely buying some time while talks continue to try and reach an agreement on a contract length with Graham Potter.
The former Chelsea, Brighton and Swansea manager has come up on the rails as a leading contender.
Especially after it was claimed Potter wanted the Hammers job if it became available.
Graham Potter during a piece to camera pitch side inside King Power Stadium before the Premier League match between Leicester City and West Ham Uni...
Photo by Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images
Four journalists make new Lopetegui replacement claim
Potter is said to have rejected West Ham’s opening offer of a six-month contract, though.
And that is the real reason the board have let it be known they’re “sticking with Lopetegui” for now.
In reality the Telegraph’s report by Law, Wallace and Burt says talks continue behind the scenes to find a contract length agreeable to Sullivan, the rest of the board and Potter – who has been out of work since April 2023.
“The six-month option appeals to West Ham with the appointment of a successor initially on a temporary basis until the end of the season,” The Telegraph states.
“That would give West Ham the chance to review the position again in the summer.
“It is understood they acknowledge that would cut down the number of candidates interested in the job and it may be that West Ham decide to target a long-term successor immediately.
“Potter still lives in Brighton, which would make West Ham, even on a short-term deal, a relatively easy move for him.
“The 49-year-old will also be acutely aware of how little contracts mean in management, given he was appointed by Chelsea on a five-year deal and was sacked after less than seven months in charge.”
Potter in if Hammers can reach contract length agreement
O’Rourke has repeatedly stated Potter is in line to be West Ham’s new manager since the loss at the King Power.
And he doubled down on the Telegraph’s claim overnight, saying the Wolves game is simply a ‘stay of execution’ for West Ham’s head coach.
“Graham Potter remains the frontrunner to replace Julen Lopetegui as West Ham manager despite the Spaniard seemingly being given a stay of execution for Monday’s huge clash with Wolves,” O’Rourke said on X.
West Ham are live on Monday Night Football in a game being dubbed ‘El Sackico’ given Wolves boss Gary O’Neil is also on the brink of being axed.
Ironically former Hammers midfielder O’Neil is one of two English managers currently employed elsewhere who actively want to replace Lopetegui.
If Lopetegui is sacked with West Ham outside the relegation zone, he will be entitled to a full pay out of his salary.
He was appointed on a two-year deal with a £3.5m annual salary, meaning the Hammers would owe him around £5m if they pull the trigger.
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