As West Ham move into a situation of claim and counterclaim over the future of Nuno Espírito Santo, one thing is becoming crystal clear.
David Sullivan is not budging from the top of West Ham United.
Probably worse than that, the Hammers’ majority shareholder now appears to be hiding behind the generic club statement released late last night, which carried the signature of nobody in particular at the football club.
Given the uncertainty surrounding West Ham’s immediate and long-term future, you would think Sullivan would want to offer supporters some clarity. After all, he has been at the centre of the decisions which have led the club into its current mess.
Unfortunately, Sullivan is refusing to comment on the future of the manager — which is fair enough and understandable to a point — but more concerningly, he also appears unwilling to address the future direction of the club itself.
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West Ham Fans Need More Than Empty Words
As part of the statement released on the club’s official website, West Ham said:
“The Club acknowledges how challenging this season has been for them and knows it must take steps to restore a sense of pride, faith and belief.”
The problem is the statement offered absolutely no indication whatsoever as to how the club intends to rebuild or what the strategy is for coping with an uncertain future in the Championship.
And honestly, phrases like pride, faith and belief don’t really cut it anymore.
What supporters need to hear now is strategy, policy, planning and direction rather than vague corporate waffle which could have been written by absolutely anybody.
At this stage, I’m not even overly concerned whether West Ham keep Nuno Espírito Santo or sack him.
Nothing Appears To Have Been Learnt
The bigger concern is that Sullivan still seems to be front and centre of the entire decision-making process.
Most worrying of all is that the very same man who appointed Julen Lopetegui, Graham Potter and indeed Nuno himself now appears to be overseeing the next major managerial decision too.
It genuinely feels as though nothing whatsoever has been learnt from any of this.
That’s probably the hardest part for many supporters to accept after yesterday.
West Ham fans made their feelings towards the chairman crystal clear during the Leeds game and did so in the loudest possible fashion.
Yet less than 24 hours later, the club response already feels like business as usual.
And in many respects, this now feels like the worst possible outcome of all:
Relegation with David Sullivan still firmly in charge of West Ham United.