David Sullivan jnr (centre)
Reports that David Sullivan junior is being lined up as a possible replacement as director of football for Mario Husillos are way wide of the mark.
And CandH has been told the Director of Football’s role will be reviewed at the end of the season when David Moyes has made his position clear on his preferences in that area.
The suggestion that Sullivan junior could be involved has surfaced on one or two websites after it became clear he had an involvement in negotiations aimed at bringing Benfica’s Gedson Fernandes to the Irons.
However, this was explained to CandH this morning as an “experience-gaining thing” with the 22 year old destined for a career in the football industry.
We understand he has been working alongside agent Will Salthouse of Unique Sports Management who are involved in the Fernandes discussions and of whom he is a friend.
We were told categorically by a club insider that there was no chance of David junior taking over from Husillos as he was far too inexperienced at this stage for a role of such importance.
Our source told us by e-mail: “He went to see Benfica yesterday, just doing odd stuff BUT he’s not experienced enough to be the Director of Football.”
The fact that the board are waiting until the end of the season to “review” the role of DoF suggests that the position will no longer exist at West Ham.
And given that a DoF is arguably the most important position within a club, that the board have not been actively seeking a replacement the moment Sr Husillos left would back up that view.
Why should it matter in the respect of Moyes as to what he wants from a DoF?
The DoF should sit ABOVE the manager and is a decision by the club to put someone in place to instill the football direction and vision and ensure continuity from manager to manager, and align squad improvment/chance to the strategy.
Fundamentally, Moyes should have NO influence on what West Ham do with respect a Director of Football.