Things could look very different for West Ham and Everton right now after their owners did battle behind the scenes over their managerial changes.
Just a few months ago West Ham and Everton were playing a high stakes game of managerial brinkmanship.
Speculation was rife about the positions of Julen Lopetegui and Sean Dyche when the Hammers and Toffees met in November.
Going into a two-week international break, reports claimed the loser could be sacked.
West Ham and Everton then played out a dour 0-0 draw labelled the worst game of the Premier League this season.
West Ham majority owner David Sullivan held meetings over the break about Lopetegui’s future.
Dyche’s position was also on the line.
But while both clubs elected to give their managers more time, Everton’s incoming owners, headed up by Dan Friedkin, were making cunning plans to take advantage of West Ham standing by Lopetegui.
Dan Friedkin and David Sullivan.
Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
West Ham and Everton owners relieved over manager battle
Friedkin started making moves to go after not one but three of West Ham’s top candidates to replace the Spaniard.
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West Ham vice-chair Karren Brady has since confirmed in her column with The Sun that a number of managers were spoken to and essentially put on standby to replace Lopetegui.
Among them were ex Borussia Dortmund boss Edin Terzic, out of work former Porto manager Sergio Conceicao and free agent Graham Potter.
But now the West Ham and Everton owners will be relieved their managerial battle ended in failure.
The Hammers were reportedly growing increasingly keen on appointing ‘new Mourinho’ Conceicao.
As Sullivan gave Lopetegui more time, though, he fast emerged as Everton’s number one target.
Toffees had Hammers worried over Conceicao and Potter
That came weeks after it was reported the Hammers were battling Everton for Conceicao.
It was then reported that the Friedkin group had held talks with Conceicao with Terzic, a former Hammers assistant coach, their second choice.
That was because Potter had made it clear he would not consider the role as he wanted to work closer to his family home in Brighton.
Ex Juve boss Max Allegri was also linked with both clubs around the same time.
The Conceicao and Terzic move from the Toffees really backed Sullivan into a corner.
Did he stick or twist? Could Sullivan really risk missing out to Everton on Terzic or the charismatic Conceicao?
In the end Conceicao, who at that point had only been courted by Nantes, got tired of waiting.
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
Everton owner Friedkin forced West Ham’s hand over Potter
AC Milan came calling for the fiery Portuguese and all eyes – of both West Ham and Everton – then turned to Potter.
When West Ham got wind Friedkin was serious about persuading Potter to lead the Toffees into a new era and new stadium, Sullivan pulled the trigger.
It was just a week after Conceicao joined Milan that the Hammers elected to sack Lopetegui.
Everton immediately responded as Dyche was moved on the very next day.
Everton’s offer of a longer term contract forced West Ham to bend to Potter’s demands of a two-and-a-half-year deal with Sullivan preferring an initial six-month contract.
After missing out on the former Chelsea boss, Friedkin turned to former Hammers manager David Moyes.
Both clubs have been moving forward in a positive direction since with performances and results improved.
Sullivan and Friedkin will be breathing a huge sigh of relief over Conceicao too.
Conceicao relief for West Ham and Everton as axe looms
They looked to have dropped a clanger when Conceicao won a trophy in his first few days at Milan.
But just a couple of months on, Conceicao is the latest manager being chewed up and reportedly soon to be spat out at the San Siro.
After crashing out of the Champions League to Feyenoord, Milan have lost three Serie A games on the bounce 2-1.
Conceicao has only won one of his last six matches and ill-discipline on the pitch has become a major problem at the Italian giants.
Sempre Milan reported last week that Conceicao is ‘heading towards farewell’ at the San Siro.
And legendary former Milan coach Arrigo Sacchi sees no way out for Conceicao as speculation intensifies that he will be sacked if he doesn’t get a win at Lecce on Saturday.
As that sorry mess unfolds in Italy, West Ham and Everton will be hugely relived they ended up with Potter and Moyes.