Whilst common sense – if such a thing exists at West Ham – dictates that there is zero chance of David Sullivan jettisoning a second manager within one season, Nuno Espírito Santo is in – to use Graham Potter management-speak: “A tricky situation”.
Eighteenth in the Premier League, six points adrift of safety and with the transfer window closed for good, Nuno now has to make the best of the squad he has to try and close the gap on fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest and Leeds – or hope he can overhaul floundering Crystal Palace or Tottenham.
However, Hammers fans are only too aware that West Ham’s board did not provide him with the tools he needs. Selling their creative midfielder without replacement and worse, failing until the last minute – literally – t0 to bring in another centre back when one has been a desperate need since selling Nayef Aguerd last summer puts Nuno in a pretty invidious spot as he searches for the formula to start winning regularly.
His chances of surviving until the season’s end don’t look great if the club don’t climb out of eighteenth. And according to footballleagueworld.com former manager Slaven Bilic, approached for the Blackburn job in the championship, still hankers after the West Ham role:
“Blackburn Rovers could face competition for Slaven Bilic from West Ham”
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“However, according to [journalist] Alan Nixon, Blackburn could face competition for the 57-year-old from West Ham if they decide to part ways with Nuno Espírito Santo. While there is no certainty of that job becoming available, a downward turn in form for the Hammers could see them sack their Portuguese boss.
Nonetheless, contact has been made with people linked to Bilic, including a relative. But there is no guarantee that he will take the job if he is formally approached and those associated with the ex-West Ham manager have sent mixed signals following early talks.”
In such a madcap season, would anyone really bet against a return for former Hammers defender and Manager Bilic if the Irons look like they’re heading for relegation? The next half a dozen games will likely produce the answer.