West Ham manager Scott Parker has wasted little time attempting to reconnect the football club with its supporters, and I have to say, I like what I’m hearing. Speaking ahead of Saturday’s Championship fixture against Blackburn Rovers, the new Hammers boss made it clear that the players and coaching staff have a responsibility to earn the backing of the fans.
Much has been made of Parker’s previous association with West Ham, which is understandable given his four excellent years at the club. However, I don’t necessarily believe a manager needs to have played for the Hammers to understand what makes the place special.
I’ve spoken quite a lot recently about small wins and easy wins, and this is another perfect example. Sometimes it doesn’t require an elaborate public relations exercise to make supporters feel appreciated; it simply requires somebody to demonstrate that they understand the football club.
Parker Knows West Ham Support Must Be Earned
Speaking during his first pre-match press conference, Parker acknowledged that supporters cannot simply be expected to turn up and applaud regardless of what happens on the pitch.
“You need to earn that, and we need to earn that. We can’t expect our fans just to come along and do that.”
He also promised to do everything possible to bring the club together, recognising the importance of the connection between the players and supporters. It’s an encouraging message, particularly after a difficult period in which the relationship between the team and the fanbase has suffered.
I remember when Alan Pardew arrived at West Ham without any previous association with the club. He promised to delve into the Hammers’ history books and learn what West Ham was all about, which struck me as exactly the right approach.
One gesture that has always stuck in my mind was Pardew sending his players out to warm up wearing T-shirts bearing the words “Moore than just a football club”. It was a classy nod towards Bobby Moore and demonstrated that you don’t necessarily need a West Ham playing career to understand the importance of the club’s history.
Noble joined Parker in the West Ham dugout
Parker Is Already Leading By Example
There was another of those small wins following West Ham’s extraordinary comeback against Cardiff City on Wednesday night. Parker made a point of going over to the travelling supporters and applauding them at the final whistle.
It might seem a relatively insignificant gesture, but I don’t think it is. Parker understands what West Ham means to its supporters, and rather than simply talking about that connection, he’s demonstrating it through his actions.
Scotty P has already spoken enthusiastically about working alongside his former teammate Nobes, highlighting their shared values and the enormous respect Mark Noble commands at the club.
Of course, none of this guarantees success, and ultimately Parker will be judged on whether he can get West Ham promoted. But when approximately 7,000 supporters are preparing to travel to Blackburn, acknowledging their commitment is a pretty good place to start.
I’ve always believed there are certain things a manager can do immediately to improve the atmosphere around a football club. Parker and Noble appear to understand that, and if they can combine those small gestures with the sort of second-half performance we witnessed at Cardiff, they’ll go a long way towards winning supporters over.