David Sullivan may be having sleepless nights over one of the most controversial decisions of his West Ham tenure as Everton make a big call on David Moyes.
At the turn of the year going into 2024, West Ham sat sixth in the Premier League – and just one win off the top four – after victories over Arsenal and Man United.
Nobody could have foreseen what was about to happen next – which ultimately shaped things to come for the Hammers and Everton in drastically different ways.
Moyes would not be excelling in his second spell at Everton were it not for the contract dispute which arose amid clamour for the Scot to be offered a new deal by West Ham chief David Sullivan.
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The Hammers’ majority owner presented Moyes with an extension to his deal, which was due to expire in the summer of 2024, but it contained two big caveats.
One was that Moyes no longer had power of veto on all transfers with the club wanting to hand more responsibility to Tim Steidten, who had been brought in as technical director by Sullivan the summer before.
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Roberto De Zerbi, Manager of Brighton & Hove Albion, acknowledges the fans following a Premier Leeague match
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The second caveat in the West Ham contract offer was that Moyes’ son, David Junior, be demoted from the scouting setup.
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Publicly Moyes said he would sign the deal when he was ready and as long as it was ‘right for me and my family’.
But behind the scenes, Sullivan grew tired of waiting and was unwilling to alter the terms and took the offer off the table.
David Moyes celebrates Everton's win over Nottingham Forest.
Photo by Andrew Kearns – CameraSport via Getty Images
West Ham’s season unravelled, Moyes parted company when his contract expired – not before a major public falling out with Steidten – and the stage was set for his eventual return to Everton.
The Hammers have been circling the Premier League plughole ever since while Everton have been on the up and up, avoiding relegation comfortably last term and now establishing themselves as European contenders in Moyes’ first full season back in charge.
That’s where he had West Ham until his departure. And although the Scot himself said it was the right time to part company, that was only down to the caveats in the new contract which was offered and withdrawn by Sullivan.
West Ham fans have been protesting against the board all season long with Sullivan and vice-chair Karren Brady front and centre of their ire.
Sullivan may be filled with regret as Everton offer Moyes new deal
Now pressure is rising on West Ham chief Sullivan as Everton make a big Moyes call.
Not everyone was against the Hammers moving on from Moyes as there had been reservations over his style of play, especially when it stopped getting consistent results.
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David Sullivan takes in a West Ham match from the directors' box
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Kevin Nolan says results only dipped so badly because word that Sullivan had withdrawn Moyes’ contract got out amongst the players, most of whom didn’t want him to leave.
West Ham fans point to the lack of coherent succession planning as the reason the club is now fighting to stay in the top flight.
But it seems almost certain the Hammers would not be in this predicament had Moyes remained in post and been given the £300m plus that has been spent on transfers since his exit.
David Moyes celebrates by kissing the Europa Conference League trophy after West Ham beat Fiorentina 2-1 in 2023
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Now the error of Sullivan’s ways may be clear for all to see with Everton ready to hand Moyes a new two-year deal.
While West Ham were being warned to be careful what they wish for when letting Moyes go, it seems Everton know where their bread is buttered.
According to an exclusive from The Guardian, Moyes – who signed a two-and-a-half-year contract when he returned to the club early last year – will have his deal extended by two years in recognition of the progress made under his leadership.
Ironically, Everton’s Friedkin Group owners only saw Moyes as a short-term appointment initially.
But they have been so impressed they are ready to extend his contract with over a year left to run.
That will not be going unnoticed in West Ham’s boardroom – or Sullivan’s bedroom, where he faces many a sleepless night over his controversial decision to withdraw Moyes’ contract offer and the rapid decline at the London Stadium ever since.
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