West Ham manager Graham Potter has a break clause in his contract, Claret & Hugh can reveal.
Potter joined the club in April on the recommendation of vice-chair Karren Brady. Initially, the club wanted to offer him a short-term deal until the end of the current season — a structure similar to the one given to David Moyes during his first spell at West Ham.
The proposed six-month contract would have included a performance-related bonus and allowed both parties to assess whether to commit to a longer-term arrangement.
However, Potter insisted he needed greater stability to begin building something at West Ham, and was ultimately handed a 2.5-year deal — a detail widely reported at the time.
But Claret & Hugh have since learned that the contract includes an 18-month break clause, allowing either Potter or the club to end the agreement at the end of next season.
Presumably, the clause was designed as a compromise — offering both the club and manager a chance to reassess the project with a degree of flexibility. In theory, West Ham could terminate the deal earlier, but would still be liable to pay compensation — something unlikely given Julen Lopetegui and his staff are still on the payroll.
Despite the clause, the club remain fully supportive of Potter and intend to back him in the upcoming transfer window. There is a genuine desire within the London Stadium for his appointment to be a success, but club officials are well aware of the urgent need to increase goal output.
While season ticket renewal figures have not yet been released, they are expected to remain low. The club will be under no illusions — entertainment and goals are essential if they are to finish the season on a high and win back fan confidence.
If he is still here next season we will end up with zero shots on target gonzo! Although we’ll be fantastic at playing triangles between keeper, right back and centre back then launch howitzers forward to absolutely nobody
I supported the Potter move, but the last few games haven’t been good. I think he started Ferguson and Guillerme in the week to show the fans etc just why they haven’t been playing.
We can all see we should use 4 at the back when playing similar level / mid table teams. However, we all got tired of sacking off matches early because we were getting pasted, and I don’t think any sane fan wants to go back to that.
Likewise, we all know we waited too long to replace the last guy, and despite many of us, and the various fan channels saying “no judgments until next season”, we are now making judgments. Forget anything positive like the Arsenal game, concentrate on the negatives; unlucky loss against Newcastle, and a poor showing against a Wolves team fighting to ensure survival.
Potter has had a rod for his back made for him with the amount if issues at the club. The tired and easily disgruntled fan base, the hollow stadium, the amateurish way we have always scouted, transferred and developed (or not) talent, not to mention a lethargic, high maintenance squad.
Frankly, we did have it good with Moyes and the Euro football, we wanted more, but the club can’t support that. I don’t think Slot, Silva or Iraola would be able to do much more than this with what is on offer at the club currently. Any successful manager at West Ham needs to be able develop a club culture from the top down, reinvent EVERYTHING behind the scenes regarding recruitment, whilst playing free flowing attacking football using the kids or the fans will demand your head after a couple of bad games.
If we can’t unearth something between now and the end of the next transfer window that says things are changing, and Potters implementing that change, we might as well get rid of him, but I personally plan to reserve judgement until that time; not much longer than that though.
Maybe we do need new owners; would it be amazing to join the Red Bull group, or become part of a Gulf states overseas investment strategy? Or maybe we’ll be melted down and sold for parts like other former premier league mainstays. West Ham will always be a circus, and I don’t think the fans would know how to deal with it if it wasn’t.
It appears Sullivan who ALWAYS get’s the blame finally used some business sense Without him and Gold there would be NO WHU
Potter was always an escape route And it appears apart from giving the youth academy a chance (lets hope it works)
At least we might have money for players instead of paying X coaches ridiculous amount for getting it wrong
By that time if it works for Potter it’s a win win
Here we go. The manager out campaign has begun already.
And you’re backing this carthorse of a Manager then?
I seriously believe Potter is looking at all players, so as to make decisions on who to get rid of. As we know we ve got an old squad and basicly we ve been pretty drab since Conference cup win, so Potter needs to shift half of the squad (not youngsters), and then get it right in the transfer window.. Only then can we judge him properly because what he’s inherited is a mess. I personally think he ll do well for us but its gonna take a couple of windows as he needs younger hungrier players and please god some strikers who know hiw to score.
Oh potter potter potter
Oh potter potter potter
Oh potter potter potter
In out in out
Who cares a shit!
Our goal output has got nothing to do with potter Look above him at Sullivan There you will find the true promlem LETS BE HONEST HERE
Mick I’m not trying to defend Sullivan but he has absolutely nothing to do with how our under performing players are set up, tactics and team selection. We had 2 games in the whole of March for the coaches to work with the players who were not on international duty to prepare for the game and yes improve our awful goal output, yet he was forced to make 3 changes after 45 minutes! Ten attempts on goal and only one on target, how is that Sullivan’s fault? The results which Potter has achieved in his first 10 games are exactly the same as Lopetegui, 3 wins, 2 draws plus 5 losses and now another loss. 11 points out of a possible 33 is nowhere near good enough and yes he needs to be given more time but 5 substitutions in one game shows how badly he got it wrong. We are fast becoming one of the most boring teams in the Premiership and after being a ST holder for years I’m certainly questioning whether to renew.
I agree totally But my point being go back to Stiedten he wanted duran not backed This problem has been going on for years Every manager comes in struggles We have got a deep rooted situation that runs from the top We have the same with top players they never hang around with us to long The whole club needs an overall.
Absolute tosh! Look at Brighton under Potter,they didn’t score goals. 40 in 38 games was their highest output for heavens sake!
yes agree but look at the circumstances Brighton come through the lower leagues with little spend on players
Look who Brighton had as a strike force those two prolific not strikers Glenn Murray and Niel maupay no wonder they struggle to score at first but it gradually got better with players like trossard and revitalised welbeck and when he first burst on the scene not the one we currently have Ferguson but it did get better, consequently so did Brightons performancys and league positions it won’t unfortunately happen overnight
This is a useful article with the information on the break clause – although that doesn’t kick in until the end of next season it does give motivation for Potter to get results this season – and Ipswich’s win last night reminds us that we are not mathematically safe from relegation
I would imagine Potter wants a good end to the season – so will ignore those who say there is nothing left to play for so play the kids
COYI
Season ticket figures?
It’s only just April, there’s no prizes for paying your money now.
3 points that might get you to 20, big deal you need 40 to get any away tickets, it’s a closed shop to those who managed to get up there years ago before they took them away every 2 years….
No reason to renew now.
Shame it wasn’t six months? Faith in Potter has gone now, Gonzo.