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Are West Ham Fans Being Played By Good Cop/Bad Cop Routine?

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Guest post by Richard who is concerned West Ham fans may be having the wool pulled over their eyes with talk of an incoming director of football.

Nuno staying and West Ham getting a director of football doesn’t make sense. Nuno’s only been successful when Mendes can ply him full of players.

I wonder if this is all spin from Sullivan/Kretinsky.

Everyone knows the fanbase is furious at the moment. Public opinion of Sullivan is at the worst it’s been, the wider anti-board sentiment is growing… so how do we make it all go away?

The Kretinsky “Power Shift”

First, drop rumblings that the leadership model of the club might well be changing. Gold shares up for sale, no external buyer. Kretinsky is furious at how Sullivan is running the club so he’s going to up his shares to 40% to match Sullivan’s influence.

Result? Fans are hopeful.

Secondly, now the club’s gone down – disaster. Board have crisis meetings around Nuno’s future. Then we have the divide. Kretinsky wants to keep him, Sullivan doesn’t.

It’s a power struggle that Kretinsky has “won”.

Result? Fans are pleased that the power is shifting in the club.

Director Of Football Or More Spin?

That — along with the fabled appointment of a director of football, again something Kretinsky is largely in favour of — means we’re supposedly moving forward with the appointment.

Maybe, just maybe, we’re getting a modern-run football club.

Except…

There’s no official word of us appointing a director of football. Brady has obviously gone, and I didn’t trust her anyway.

To couple that, Nuno notoriously likes to use players that Mendes provides and when given players by Directors of Football, he refuses to play them or uses them as leverage to get out. (Forest this year.)

I really hope my cynicism is misplaced, but this all feels more like the same old story.

Cheaper to keep Nuno on.
Sullivan still in charge.
Kretinsky still playing the knight in shining armour without really having to do anything.

Opinion:

Thanks for posting Richard. As for your cynicism . . . I completely understand. Earlier today West Ham spoke of repairing the relationship with fans and until they prove themselves, many will remain suspicious.

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Kris Gonzo (commonly known to the West Ham community as Gonzo) is the co-founder of Hammers Chat (established 2014) and the lead video content creator and columnist for Claret and Hugh.

With over a decade of professional sports media experience, he is a frequent West Ham United analyst and contributor for Sky Sports News, BBC Football Focus, and BBC Radio 5 Live. He previously served as an official video and content creator for West Ham United FC during the club's tenure at Upton Park and featured in the official documentary commemorating the historic final game at the Boleyn Ground.

A lifelong Hammer since the legendary 10-0 victory over Bury, when he isn't providing daily match analysis on the Hammers Chat YouTube Channel or broadcasting on X (@GONZObignose), he can be found walking his dog and restoring classic pinball machines.

7 comments

  • pat says:

    Smoke and Mirrors….30% season discount lol anyone with half a brain can see through that nonsense…do not give in to these people they only care about money and now the gravy train has spilt THOSE fan type people (not the Tourist customer type!) suddenly are needed as the ground will be empty without them and a “World class Stadium with a World class team” does not deserve that and the board do not want to look stupid and to late for that as the horse bolted a long time ago…Sullivan Kretinsky Trippy boy whats left of Gold etc get out of my club you never have and never will be interested in what it means to the fans ooops sorry i meant CUSTOMERS.

  • Roman says:

    Why would you even contemplate keeping Nuno? Did not have the expertise to keep us up so ‘sling your hook’

  • Irish Hammer ⚒️ says:

    Sorry Richard but this doesn’t look like the usual BS we’ve been peddled. Sullivan never likes to shoulder the blame or look outmanoeuvred, this is Kretinsky repositioning himself to protect his investment. Why can’t a DOF work with Nuno and Mendes to appraise the options available? A few loans with options/obligations (if we’re promoted) from the Mendes stable would certainly keep costs down.

  • Terry says:

    All very suspicious. Also the up to 30% discount on season tickets why are season ticket holders treated differently? It should be 30% for all not just certain tickets. We all pay our hard earned money to go so why is there a difference. Absolute joke from the club & I was going to renew but not sure now after obviously not being valued so much by the club. Absolutely fuming at what they’ve done 😡

  • claret59 says:

    great article, my thoughts exactly

  • Dudley Tyler says:

    Why is it cheaper to keep Nuno on? He was due no compensation and his reduced deal will still likely have him the most expensive manager in the Championship.

  • Bob says:

    Gonzo enters the paranoia stage of emotions.

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