A week is a long time in football, but West Ham’s statement to fans last Tuesday has already aged incredibly badly.
The club issued the 1,300-word message in an effort to placate supporters ahead of planned protests against the board and following the Fan Advisory Board’s vote of no confidence. At the time, the statement felt insincere and inaccurate—now it looks even worse.
Much was made of West Ham’s so-called progressive vision, with the future of the academy and recruitment built around Graham Potter and his right-hand man Kyle Macaulay. The club declared:
“Steps have already been taken to implement a new strategy and approach – particularly in the area of player recruitment. We have appointed Graham Potter as our new Head Coach. His role is to build and develop a first-team squad in line with the Club’s identity and objectives. Head of Recruitment Kyle Macaulay was brought in to oversee player recruitment and transfers.”
Yet, even as that propaganda-laden statement was being published, West Ham were conducting interviews to replace Potter.
West Ham boasted how Potter would lead the clubs recruitment
Fast forward a week and the club are now actively seeking to remove not only Potter but his entire backroom staff, including Macaulay.
Nobody truly believed the statement at the time—it was rightly dismissed as spin. Most fans accept that Potter is not the man to take the club forward. But to claim he was central to West Ham’s long-term future while already lining up his successor is crass in the extreme.
We can’t afford to let the grass grow under our feet, Gonzo. Always gaining knowledge.
Just don’t understand why you’d sack Macauley! Chelsea didn’t.
They kept him, utilised him, and then we had to pay for him to get him.
The smart thing to do is keep him in post as head scout or whatever, and then let someone else give us our £1m back if Potter gets a new gig and wants him again.
Football Club Ownership For Dummies. Where can I get a copy?
Sullivan and Brady have proved yet again that they are out dated, unprofessional, simply not good enough.
The only top flight side to not have a footbalking CEO and DOF positions with autonomy. That alone is evidence fir why we are set up to fail. Sullivan perfirms both roles. It beggars belief and has not been highlighted by the media.
Hi all, I am not by any stretch claiming to have a high placed source or any inside knowledge but I do have a mate who works for the club and in his words Brady has been offered an opportunity to resign. Got this info a few hours ago and my fingers are crossed.
They (the board), cannot help themselves in making these PR disasters. Utterly clueless.
Not sure why everyone seems to think it’s a given that Macaulay will be sacked with Potter? He stayed at Chelsea after Potter was sacked there…?