The position vice Chair Karren Brady took at the recent Fan Advisory Board meeting on 26th February was that next season, regardless of the division in which West Ham are playing, the club would be looking to appoint to a ‘senior leadership recruitment role’ (a Director of Football or Technical Director ) to oversee transfers.
That position was contradicted by our own source close to West Ham who subsequently claimed it would be ‘business as usual’ with the Manager and chairman likely sorting it out between them:
“West Ham DOF Claims Dismissed as Source Claims Club May Stick With Familiar Transfer Model”
As our own article ran just a week ago.
In a further twist today, West Ham’s Fan Advisory Board has received a definitive response from the football club after seeing clarification on this very point and have tweeted their statement accordingly:
“Following recent reporting suggesting that such an appointment may no longer be planned, the FAB sought clarification from the Club.
The Club has confirmed to the FAB that:
-
- The media reporting in question does not originate from a Club source and is considered speculative;
- The position communicated to the FAB on 26 February remains unchanged, namely that a Director of Football will be appointed at the end of this season;
- The Club does not intend to issue any further public clarification at this time.”
Which seems to make West Ham’s position clear.
Confirmation of new DoF role by West Ham – where will Nuno and Mendes fit in?
However it raises the spectre of dissonance between football club and manager, remembering Nottingham Forest’s whole sorry descent into chaos began with the spectacular bust up between their ‘head of global football’ Edu Gaspar and then manager Nuno Espírito Santo and his Super agent associate Jorge Mendez.
Considering how Tim Steidten, former technical director, fell out with first David Moyes then Julen Lopetegui, it would seem the Hammers are playing with fire in planning a new appointment if it is at odds with Nuno’s supremacy within the football club hierarchy.
Let Nuno pick his own DOF. That would surely work.
We tried DOF picking his own manager and that did not end well. Of course, it didn’t cost any of us fans any money. Just lost a fortune and short term future for our long suffering and aged ‘owners’.
I’m happy for them to sort it all out and go forward the best that we can.
Ever hopeful John. COYI
The idea looks great on paper.
However, I would hope that there is a board meeting including Nuno, Jemez and, Nobes to allow them a voice in the decision. This would promote increased unity within the club.
Otherwise, it will just be a hand picked candidate- Sullivan by proxy.
And we all know the song by now….
Surely some sort of compromise would be to get a DOF who can work with the both the long term of the club and the current manager and when new managers are appointed in the future they should know who the DOF is and be able to work alongside. Or is this too sensible for our board
Good job we have grown-ups in charge. Rumours abound in the playground.