West Ham fans, if they are anything like me, will awake to each day with an anxious scroll on the phone, expecting the trademark ‘club statement’ with the corner-flag image that heralds the expected announcement that the Hammers have parted company with Nuno Espírito Santo.
The Manager has failed in his bid to secure Premier League football for West Ham next season and most seem to agree that it suits neither the club, nor Nuno, to continue the association into a Championship campaign.
However, seasoned West Ham watchers will be somewhat more reserved, knowing exactly how David Sullivan acts in these situations – as we’ve had to witness all too often in the last couple of years.
Sullivan likes to have the new man in place before pulling the trigger
The beleaguered West Ham chairman had his ‘ducks in a row’ behind the scenes each time he has made a change at Manager level, preferring to have his next appointee lined up for unveiling before pulling the trigger on the old coach.
Indeed, Julen Lopetegui had to front up a media session on a Friday and a Saturday morning training session whilst being a ‘dead man walking’ – with Potter already interviewed – so there is no expectation that Sullivan’s M.O. will be any different this time around.
Nuno is likely to be given the push ‘officially’ in days, not hours, once Sullivan has his new man ready and waiting in the wings.
Whether it be Craig Bellamy (we wish) Gary O’Neil or Scott Parker ( most likely), West Ham’s chairman will likely repeat the process which has become a well-trodden path to replace the coach at London Stadium.
So don’t hold your breath. Fans – me included – will be hoping that just this one time Sullivan learns from past mistakes and pays the £900,000 reported to be the buyout for Craig Bellamy’s Wales FC contract. However, leopards don’t change their spots and the bookies seem to be agreed on Scotty Parker being the frontrunner.
Before complaining too hard, think yourselves very lucky that Steve Cooper is a rank outsider at 25/1. Suddenly, Parker doesn’t seem so bad.
O’Neil would be far preferable to Scott Parker. Both have gained promotions but O’Neil looked more at home in the PL of the two
Out of work managers don’t come down to two or three, there is Alonso, knows the Premiership, and Thomas Frank too. Also with a points per game ratio of over 2 is Xavi a young progressive manager who may like a new challenge, to name 3 of many!
Parker is just a bad as Cooper imo, but Sullivan never learns because in his deluded mind is the best owner in the game. Everyone knows Bellamy should be offered the job and as I said yesterday it’s not just the compensation that will prevent it happening, but also he is not a ‘yes man’ will speak his mind and want to tear the current failed structure