Former West Ham director of football Tim Steidten has taken a swipe at how the club is run—particularly the Hammers’ ownership.
Speaking to Sky Sports Germany, Steidten was asked to compare his experiences at West Ham and former club Bayer Leverkusen, and he didn’t hold back:
“It’s a difference like night and day. In Germany, clubs are clearly structured, In England, on the other hand, many clubs are run by owners. The owner not only brings in his money, but is also very emotionally involved.”
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Steidten received a full pay-off from West Ham when he was dismissed in January following the appointment of Graham Potter as manager.
At the time, many assumed the Hammers would replace him with another director of football. Instead, the club chose to elevate Potter’s long-term data analyst Kyle Macaulay to head of recruitment, with David Sullivan overseeing transfer negotiations.
A club insider told Claret & Hugh back in January that rumours linking former Brighton DOF Dan Ashworth to the club were nonsense, saying: “Why change? We’re a very happy ship.”
Steidten famously fell out with both David Moyes and Julen Lopetegui, to the extent that both managers reportedly banned him from entering the training ground.
Potter and Steidten met secretly to discuss replacing Lopetegui
Initially, things appeared to be improving, with Steidten photographed having a clandestine hotel meeting with Potter while Lopetegui was still in charge. Both men were later front and centre during Potter’s unveiling at Rush Green.
But judging by his latest comments, Steidten is far from impressed at the way West Ham is being run.