Nottingham Forest supremo Evangelos Marinakis is about to put David Sullivan in a position where he must make the biggest decision of his entire West Ham tenure — in more ways than one.
Graham Potter may not be the root of all West Ham’s problems, but he clearly isn’t the solution either.
A trip to Nottingham Forest awaits the Hammers next in the Premier League but it could be what’s happening off the field at the City Ground that has the biggest bearing on Potter’s future.
While West Ham got their season off to a woeful start with a 3-0 defeat at Sunderland, Nottingham Forest picked up where they left off last term by beating Brentford 3-1.
Never has a team’s nickname been less fitting than West Ham’s right now.
The “Irons” put in another weak, meek and gravely concerning performance as they were battered 5-1 by Chelsea at the London Stadium on Friday night.
Pressure piles on Potter and Sullivan at West Ham
It means Potter has won just five of his 21 games in charge of the Hammers since arriving in January.
This malaise started long ago, under David Moyes and is now spanning three managers and 19 months.
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West Ham have now won just 15 of their last 59 Premier League matches since January 2024.
So this is not all on Potter – even if it is now abundantly clear he is not capable of turning things around.
In terms of headlines, the drama on the pitch at West Ham is matched by those off it at Nottingham Forest right now.
And Nottingham Forest chief Evangelos Marinakis looks set to force David Sullivan into the biggest decision of his West Ham tenure.
A crestfallen Graham Potter on the sideline as West Ham are beaten 5-1 by Chelsea
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
Hammers fans understandably want new ownership.
As Premier League clubs set a new record for spending, West Ham have been stuck in the mud – and it is already showing.
But West Ham are not going to get new owners overnight. The process takes months even if there was a party interested, which doesn’t seem to be the case.
So if West Ham want to stay in the Premier League and avoid financial ruin, drastic change is needed within the team and staff for now.
The Hammers will be considering Potter’s future. They have to be.
Forest chief Marinakis to force Sullivan into biggest decision yet
Sullivan originally only wanted to give Potter a six-month contract but interest from Everton forced their hand to match their two-and-a-half-year deal.
With a record of five wins from 19 games and fans already fed up during his six months in charge last season, it is fair to say Potter would not have been retained.
So starting the season by breaking the record for the worst start to a Premier League season of any team in history, with eight goals shipped in two defeats, puts Potter on the precipice.
While he is up there he may find himself next to Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo.
The Portuguese has worked wonders at Forest.
But he spoke out against enigmatic owner Marinakis and Edu regarding transfers this week in the latest of a series of public run-ins between the pair.
Nottingham Forest chief Evangelos Marinakis has strong words for Nuno Espirito Santo on the pitch
Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images
Espirito Santo has now admitted his relationship with the Greek ‘has changed’ and is ‘not so close’.
Sky Sports report Marinakis is baffled and furious with the situation and is planning to sack the manager.
So Espirito Santo could find himself out of a job at the same time as Potter.
That’s if Sullivan learns from past mistakes after it emerged Potter has now set a new record for the fewest home points by a West Ham manager after 10 games. Worse than Avram Grant, who Sullivan refused to sack as he took the Hammers down.
West Ham have been linked with Espirito Santo in the past but his name will be infinitely more appealing now than it was then following his sacking by Spurs.
It is not just the potential imminent availability of Espirito Santo that could force Sullivan’s hand at West Ham, though.
Three West Ham managerial targets at centre of Forest drama
Because the two managers being considered by Nottingham Forest to replace him have also been heavily linked with West Ham in the recent past.
The Guardian claim Marinakis is considering out-of-work former Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou as Nottingham Forest’s new boss.
After being sacked by Tottenham, a large section of West Ham fans urged Sullivan to snap Postecoglou up.
A top journalist tipped Postecoglou to return to football at West Ham if and when Potter is sacked mid-season.
Marinakis has spoken publicly about his admiration for Postecoglou and the fact he is so openly proud of his Greek heritage.
Ange Postecoglou and Marco Silva share a warm embrace when Spurs played Fulham
Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images
Many Hammers fans wanted Postecoglou and Sullivan likes Silva
The other manager being considered by Nottingham Forest is reportedly Fulham’s Marco Silva.
Espirito Santo’s fellow Portuguese has also voiced his unhappiness at Fulham and their lack of spending and ambition this summer.
Silva was Sullivan’s choice to succeed David Moyes at West Ham and has gone on record with his own admiration for the ex Everton boss over the years.
West Ham have considered Silva – who used to manage Marinakis’ Greek club Olympiacos – in the past.
But the Hammers baulked at his reported hefty £10m plus release clause at the time.
Nottingham Forest News has suggested Silva is also in the running given the situation unfolding at both clubs.
That will be setting alarm bells ringing in the West Ham boardroom.
Because simply put, it gives Sullivan the biggest single decision of his 15-year tenure at West Ham United.
If he sits on his hands, everything is pointing to Potter taking West Ham down.
But if he makes changes now, there is still time for a new manager – be it Espirito Santo, Postecoglou or Silva – to bring in some of their own players before the window closes.
Their personalities and approach may give the Hammers a fighting chance of staying up with plenty of games left to secure safety.
One thing is for sure, West Ham cannot afford to sit and do nothing.