By Kris Gonzo | Senior West Ham Columnist (Follow on X)
It would appear that West Ham’s lack of football infrastructure has seen the club fall at the first hurdle in the summer rebuild.
Paramount to the Hammers’ squad overhaul is the appointment of a Director of Football and it’s abundantly obvious to one and all that Newcastle’s Steve Nickson is the first choice.
West Ham delegates have met with the 62-year-old and it would appear terms have been agreed.
Nickson Wants More Than Money
It would seem the delay is nothing to do with the money on offer.
After all, West Ham can afford any wage comparable to those available at Wrexham and Birmingham City, who are both chasing Nickson.
By all accounts, our prospective Director of Football is seeking assurances about his role at the club.
He wants to be a Director of Football with a clear mandate and project in mind.
And that is where we appear to be falling short.
Big On Ambition, Light On Direction
At the moment, West Ham are big on ambition but low on direction.
Jiří Švarc is dealing with the financial issues at the club but is still involved with JP Morgan and is not a football man.
Daniel Kretinsky’s time is divided between multiple businesses, so at present there appears to be nobody with a clear football vision.
West Ham are light on football executives and, for all the ambitious plans surrounding the stadium and training ground, there is little in the way of football structure.
The Lights Are On But Nobody’s Home
If I were a betting man, I’d still suggest we are the frontrunners for Nickson’s signature.
But unless something decisive happens at the club very soon, we’ll probably lose out.
Not because of money.
Not because of ambition.
But because, at the moment, the lights are on but nobody’s home.
You are WRONG to even state we will miss out, if he is stalling and entertaining other clubs the plug should and will be pulled, in no world are we competing with clubs like Wrexham and if we are then we are on a ship floating towards failure. Another Sullivan to much talk no action lost faith already if we lose our to a club more concerned with Hollywood and making documentaries, if he goes elsewhere we have not missed out we found someone with lack of integrity after giving his word so good riddance he doesn’t deserve us not the other way round
Well, you’ve all got what you wanted.
Now let’s see how it pans out. I can’t see a plan anywhere, just reactions to events.
I wasn’t a fan of the expression when Moyes’ contract lapsed, but ‘Be careful what you wish for’ comes to mind.
Im guessing with your handle,
you’d possibly say ” better the devil you know “.
Not me, thanks.
Moves wasted so much money on duds, at the end of his contract we needed to replace at least a dozen players, he couldn’t be trusted to bring in another set of 27 to 29 year olds with no resale value on whopping contracts.
We didn’t wish for what followed that’s not on us supporters.
You know who is responsible for those two numpties who were appointed.
Not one fan sat in onthe interview process as far as I’m aware.
“The lights are on, but nobody’s home.”
You can certainly say the same thing about Baroness “Business Brains” Botox and the ex-adult industry vertically-challenged velvet-shoed cretin, Sullivan, too.
Anyway, enough of them. They’re history now. Thankfully.