Make no mistake about it, Daniel Křetínský winning the managerial tug-of-war against David Sullivan at West Ham marks a crucial milestone in the changing balance of power at the football club.
Over the last 48 hours, Sullivan had sought to remove Nuno Espírito Santo from his position as manager, with reasoning being outlined through intermediaries and, to a certain extent, undermining some of the work Nuno has done since arriving at the London Stadium.
Personally, I don’t think Espírito Santo has been anywhere near as good as some are making out. Equally, I don’t appreciate parts of his record being conveniently erased while only the positive statistics are used to support his continuation as head coach.
That said, I also don’t believe he’s been anywhere near as bad as some are now claiming either.
And I certainly take reports that the entire West Ham squad were unhappy with him with a pinch of salt.
By and large, I suspect Nuno remained popular with most of the players, particularly those regularly selected, which is probably true at most football clubs.
What does appear beyond doubt, however, is that Sullivan wanted him gone and Křetínský wanted him to stay.
Another Sullivan And Kretinsky Clash
We’ve seen the pair clash before.
The previous major power struggle came over Tim Steidten’s position as Director of Football. Křetínský had pushed heavily for Steidten’s appointment, but ultimately it was Sullivan who removed him.
It was a significant moment because it represented a clash between two completely different approaches to running a football club.
On one side, Sullivan’s more antique and agent-led methods.
On the other, Křetínský pushing towards a more modern recruitment structure.
That’s why the decision to retain Nuno feels important.
For the first time in a long while, it appears Křetínský has actually managed to force through the outcome he wanted despite Sullivan pushing strongly in the opposite direction.
Sullivan Influence Appears To Be Weakening
Certainly, it points towards increased influence from Křetínský and a diminishing grip on power from Sullivan, which honestly can only be viewed as a positive development.
Ideally, I’d still rather see a complete reset at West Ham with entirely new ownership and structure.
But in the absence of that, perhaps the best supporters can realistically hope for is Křetínský gradually limiting Sullivan’s influence over football matters.
For far too long now, West Ham have felt like a football club operating with outdated methods rather than modern structures.
Sullivan has never appeared comfortable with Directors of Football and has often seemed to favour trusted agents over a calculated scouting and recruitment department.
Add in numerous poor decisions and financial accounts which now leave the club carrying more debt than when he first arrived, and it becomes increasingly difficult to argue the current model is sustainable.
It wasn’t all that long ago that the Fans’ Advisory Board effectively issued a vote of no confidence in the hierarchy and called for both Karren Brady and David Sullivan to step aside from executive positions.
Ultimately, supporters were asking for competent football people to run the club.
With Brady now gone and Sullivan’s influence seemingly weakening, West Ham may finally be edging closer to that point.
Players only love you when they’re playing.
So true in life.
So it would seem, that after a boardroom struggle, in reality nothing has changed very much. But my prediction for next season, and I say this sincerely hoping that I am completely wrong. After a dozen or so games, if we are not in one of the top three positions. The ultimate Limpet that Mr Sullivan is, cos he ain’t going anywhere, will panic and pull the trigger on Nuno. Then we will be back where we started, ending up appointing Scott Parker, if he is available .. I fear it will be yet another lost season in Clown World.. Maybe there is someone out there who can convince me that I am wrong. Please?
I have far more issues with Sullivan than I have with Nuno, anything that reduced Sullivans input is positive, I’m not even certain that Sullivan isn’t losing it his decisions have been so off the mark. It’s not impossible, he is 77 now.
Nuno… He blew some points that did not need to be blown but probably every manager does that to some extent. He also made a far better fist of what was available than either Lopetegui or Potter. He’s not perfect but he’s not that dreadful either, we were on good middle of the table team form until the final run in.
I think Nuno will do fine for the championship, he’s been there and done it. We also need some stability about the place as we’ve had too many managers in too short a time.
Just keep Sullivan away from the big decisions is all I ask…
Nuno staying has to better than allowing Sullivan to make him the latest scapegoat, and then pick another manager. We don’t know much about Kretinski but he’s a football man, and it’s not too fanciful to think that he’s as ruthless as Sullivan but smart too. You can’t judge Nuno on his whole tenure. He inherited such a bad situation (first two results 0-3, 1-5, 18th place, 3 points from 5 games, poor league for the previous year and a half) that Bob Paisley, Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger, or Pep Guardiola arguably could not have turned it around much more quickly, And as ‘The Board of Directors’ (ie Kretinski ?) has pointed, out the form over the last 17 games (45% of the season) was 7th place standard. Nuno might have limitations, but who have we had that was really any better over their whole WHU stint — Ron Greenwood & John Lyall perhaps ? And who that’s available could we realistically get now who would be any better ? Parker, O’Neil, Bilic do not exactly set the pulse racing, given their past track records in English football. We have to wait and see, but hope that Sullivan’s marginalisation continues and some professionals are brought in who know how to run a top football club. Because we certainly haven’t had any such people for a long time.
If Kresnski wanted Steinden and Steinden had no idea what was needed
other wise we might have got a striker that could actually find the goal
instead of just throwing money in the air to see who caught it which were a team that just didn’t jel
If all sporting directors are like that then I dont want them either I equally don’t think Sullivan can be trusted with choices right for the team or cheap crocks which seems to be what he likes
I belive the MANAGER should have the greatest say in choosing the team
Let’s not forget that Kretinsky is very wealthy and very successful. He obviously wanted in to the club but I’m sure that he’s not happy about the damage now done to the value of his investment and the short sighted way that cash flow is managed The fact that he is willing to increase that investment, presumably now at a lower price, is definitely a positive sign as he will want a far bigger say in how things are run to avoid the same mistakes in the future. Sullivan is all about the ego of it but at 77 with the mess he’s made, he might just realise that now is the time to take a back seat. Maybe just maybe, in the long run relegation might be just what we needed.
How anyone could argue for a director of football after the complete fiasco with Steidten I don’t understand. The ultimate responsibility should lie with the manager otherwise you can’t complain if they’re unsuccessful, it may work in the rest of Europe but it doesn’t work in the premiership.
When Steidten was recruited everyone seemed to think he was wonderful to the detriment of Moyes, how wrong could you be!
I don’t buy that there is no truth in the Athletic article. Firstly, they are usually spot on and not known for hyping up rumours with no foundation. Secondly, you can see it in the way Nuno has acted this year. Bizarre selection and tactics choices. Standing emotionless on the touchline while the team burns with clearly bad tactics crying out for Manager intervention. In interviews the coldness and lack of any empathy or compassion for players not in favour. The way he treated Ward-Prowse, the way he tried to treat Wilson. The way he demanded Traore and never played him (actually a good call). Making Pablo his number one transfer target when he clearly isn’t Premier League quality, although a hard worker. All of this tells me he has poor man management skills.
Now look at his record. Nuno’s teams normally play a low press, look when he was riding high at Forest they were bottom of league for winning the ball high up the pitch. He tried it here but we didn’t have the players with the pace for it to be effective. Suddenly Paco comes in, he is immediately popular with the players and everything changes. A coach who has never coached and has mainly managed in low leagues/divisions at small clubs. Surely even this is sign that Nuno was never up to the job
Nuno staying and us getting a director of football doesn’t make sense. He’s been successful when Mendes can ply him full of players.
I wonder if this is all spin – not from you (Gonzo, C&H, HammersChat etc.) – but from Sullivan/Kretinsky.
Everyone knows the fanbase is furious at the moment. Public opinion of Sullivan is at the worse it’s been, the wider anti-board sentiment is growing… so how do we make it all go away.
First, drop rumblings that the leadership model of the club might well be changing. Gold shares up for sale, no external buyer. Kretinsky is furious at how Sullivan is running the club so he’s going to up his shares to 40% to match Sullivans influence. – Result – fans are hopeful.
Secondly, now the clubs gone down – Disaster! Board have crisis meeting around Nuno’s future. Then we have the divide. Kretinsky wants to keep him! Sullivan doesn’t! It’s a power struggle, that Kretinsky has “won.” – Result? Fans are pleased that the power is shifting in the club!
That – along with the fabled appointment of a director of football – again something Kretinsky is largely in favour of – we’re moving forward with the appointment. Maybe, just maybe – we’re getting a modern run football club!!
Except…
There’s no official word of us appointing a director of football. Brady has obviously gone, and I didn’t trust her anyway. To couple that, Nuno notoriously likes to use players that Mendes provides, and when given players by Directors of Football, he refuses to play them or uses them as leverage to get out. (Forest, this year).
I really hope my cynicalness is misplaced – but this seems to be more of the same – cheaper to keep Nuno on, Sullivan still in charge, and Kretinsky still plays the knight in shining armour without having to really do anything…
I actually really like what you’ve said here Richard mate and share your cynicism although hope we’re both wrong.
If you don’t mind I’ll share this on the site
Don’t mind at all!
I agree I am assuming that Mendes already knows by now the type of player Nuno likes so why add to the wage bill with a power struggle
Some hopeful signs. Brady gone, Sullivan despite clearly briefing against Nuno, doesn’t get his way. Bloke from Boro lined up as DoF and a statement from board which appears to be less tin eared than previous ones….
Be interesting to see how the agents fair, mendes and salthouse…
Also whether Nuno is sufficiently incentivised to refuse the PL offers that will come his way.
Less than impressed with Nuno tbh but hard to know what he’s trying to navigate behind the scenes.
If you interrogate the stats long enough they’ll tell you anything you want. I think a lot seem to forget the guy was in charge since September and had plenty of time to save us, also the fact he was still tinkering as late as the Newcastle game suggests he learned nothing from his earlier mistakes.
The stories from the Athletic, which is usually a reliable source, are very concerning.
All that said, at least a decision has been made. Hopefully the DoF is decided soon and the club can start to move forward with player sales/purchases.
Hopefully one outgoing is Pablo. A Nuno signing.
Pablo will likely end next season as. top scorer in the championship
I hope you’re right. Let’s pick this up again next May…
I won’t hold my breath given his second touch is a tackle.