Bilic may face new showdown

It’s been brewing for half the season but the simmering unrest over Slaven Bilic’s backroom staff has the potential to break out into an all out row should the team’s drift goes on.

And even if it is halted and turned around there will be some serious conversations going on between the manager and board over the need to freshen things up on the training ground.

After regular complaints about a lack of training ground intensity – at one stage admitted by Bilic himself – the board believe the manager needs to look seriously at the make up of the staff, a move he is likely to resist strongly.

Bilic is a fiercely loyal individual and is unlikely to budge from backing his staff which includes assistant manager Nikola Jurcevic, former Croatia international  and first-team coach Edin Terzic, the 34-year-old former coach at Borussia Dortmund and  Besiktas.

Completing the set up are 69-year-old fitness coach Miljenko Rak, who was part of the manager’s staff during his time coaching Croatia.

Rak, a former long jumper, has also coached the Croatia national handball team and Olympic gold medal skier Janica Kostelic.

Completing the team are former West Ham favourite Julian Dicks and goalkeeping coach Chris Woods.

Both sides will be keen to avoid a showdown but  the unrest has been rumbling on all season and is a matter which will be discussed at the annual review of the season.