West Ham’s clash with Crystal Palace this weekend has been billed as a must-win for Graham Potter amid links to the likes of Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna.
Hammers News exclusive
It may still be early in the new Premier League season but West Ham’s home game against Crystal Palace is already being seen as a must-win game.
Not just for beleaguered Hammers boss Graham Potter but for West Ham’s hopes of avoiding relegation.
The Irons sit in the bottom three of the fledgling Premier League table and this is already shaping up to be one of – if not the – most competitive seasons of the last 15 years.
The benchmark for Premier League survival has always been around 40 points. But far less has been required in recent years as promoted teams struggle to bridge the gap.
Speculation rife Potter could be sacked by West Ham
West Ham actually hold the unwanted record of the club to be relegated with the most points – 42.
This season the points needed to stay up are expected to be in line with the 40-point mark.
The dismal 3-0 defeat to bitter rivals Tottenham last time out has piled new pressure on Potter.
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While most Hammers supporters believe Potter is a symptom rather than the cause of the club’s ills, he is not escaping blame.
West Ham fans are planning a protest against the club’s owners before the Palace clash, specifically targeting David Sullivan and vice-chair Karren Brady.
In fact Sullivan and Brady face a major new West Ham threat after a stark warning three days out from the crucial Palace clash.
West Ham majority owner David Sullivan watches his side with fiancee Ampika Pickston at the London Stadium
Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images
Potter bravely turned the blame on West Ham’s owners after the Spurs shambles.
But fans and the likes of Match of the Day think ‘baffled’ Potter’s time is up at West Ham.
The defeat to Spurs means Potter has won just six games from 24 since he replaced Julen Lopetegui in January.
Only two of those have come at the London Stadium – against Leicester and Fulham – which explains the complete disconnect between the team and supporters, who walked out en masse with 30 minutes left against Tottenham.
Supporters will now protest en masse before the Palace game.
It comes amid rumours West Ham are eyeing ex-Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo and further claims that Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna was spotted in the director’s box for the Tottenham game.
Top source reveals truth about Potter’s future and McKenna links
Now a top source has lifted the lid on the truth about Potter’s West Ham future and those McKenna links.
Sullivan is notorious for only appointing managers who are out of contract, as he begrudges paying a fee to hire new bosses.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s stance on the West Ham job has been revealed.
But is Potter really clinging on to his job by a thread?
Heading into the new campaign, Potter stated he can now be judged after a full pre-season and bringing some of his own players in.
The excuses of last season, when Potter blamed Lopetegui for his poor record of five wins from 19 games, are no longer valid.
Yet West Ham have somehow got even worse so far this term, losing four of their five games, shipping 14 goals in the process.
Regardless of the shambles above him, many fans feel Potter should and could be doing much better.
Graham Potter looks at the floor as West Ham are beaten by Tottenham Hotspur
Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images
Under Lopetegui West Ham seemed to lurch from one “must-win” game to another to keep the Spaniard in the job.
Many feel the Hammers board waited too long to act, essentially wasting an entire season and only worsening the club’s regression.
Now a top transfer source close to the situation has revealed the truth regarding Potter’s future and those links to McKenna.
The source, who is well connected across the Premier League and Championship, told Hammers News that while some at West Ham do like McKenna, the prospect of him taking over from Potter is highly unlikely.
Even if the man himself would actually like the job.
Palace defeat would be the end for Potter, source claims
“We know Sullivan does not like Championship managers and McKenna also has a pretty sizeable compensation price,” the source told Hammers News.
“That said I think he would take it if offered, I just don’t see it.”
The source has also revealed the truth on Potter’s future ahead of the big match against the Eagles.
And the Hammers boss is very much hanging by a thread, with the source stating there will be no repeat of the ‘rollercoaster’ Lopetegui saga.
“We know he has Saturday’s game,” the source told Hammers News.
“I am told Sullivan is very concerned by the fans’ reaction at the moment. It is more toxic than he ever had under David Moyes and Lopetegui.
“Defeat and that’s it for Potter.
“But I am told it won’t be a rollercoaster like both the previous managers, saving themselves with the odd win.”