Karren Brady alongside a circle inset of Slaven Bilic.
Credit: Imago
Samuel Fabre
Thu 18 September 2025 14:40, UK
West Ham might be on the search for a new manager in the next few days or weeks.
As Graham Potter faces more scrutiny at West Ham, a number of managers have been added to David Sullivan and Karren Brady’s shortlist.
Ipswich’s Kieran McKenna is liked by West Ham, whilst Sean Dyche has also been linked with the club in the past few days.
However, one man that Brady has always been fond of is former manager Slaven Bilic.
Karren Brady smiling with the London Stadium in the background
(Credit; Imago)
Sacking Slaven Bilic is the hardest decision Karren Brady has ever made
It was reported on Thursday that Bilic is being considered for a shock return to West Ham, eight years after being sacked.
MORE WEST HAM STORIES
Speaking to The Sun in 2017, Brady made clear that the decision to let Bilic go was not personal.
She said: “He was an honest man with integrity and intelligence and was furiously loyal to West Ham. So sacking this thoroughly decent man was one of the hardest things our board felt it had to do in 25 years in football.
“This sacking was in some ways the easiest and in others, the hardest. We would have liked to have kept Slaven, but we couldn’t. He understood.”
Bilic guided West Ham to a seventh-placed finish in 2015/16, but the departure of talisman Dimitri Payet meant things quickly unravelled for the Croatian manager.
Bilic was eventually sacked in November 2017, with the club sat in the relegation zone at the time of his departure.
Bilic Manager Potter
111 Games managed 24
42 Wins 6
30 Draws 5
39 Losses 13
37.84 Win percentage 25
With West Ham in free-fall under Potter, a return for the 57-year-old isn’t a stretch given the impression he left on Brady.
Graham Potter on the touchline in West Ham training gear.
Credit: Imago
Graham Potter needs to turn things around quickly
Fundamentally, most of West Ham’s issues come from the team’s rapid decline in the Premier League.
Potter has failed to fix the defensive issues that have plagued the club for the last two seasons, whilst the lack of aa dangerous striker means the Hammers are, yet again, overly-reliant on Jarrod Bowen.
Lucas Paqueta remaining at West Ham is arguably the best bit of business they’ve done in the transfer window, yet the squad does not look strong enough to challenge for the top half.
Currently sat 18th, Potter is on thin ice, and a defeat to Crystal Palace on Saturday could spell the end of his West Ham career.
Enjoyed this article? Stay connected with all the latest West Ham United news, updates, and behind-the-scenes content by following us on our new Instagram account –@westhamzone247