By Kris Gonzo | Senior West Ham Columnist (Follow on X)
I’m trying not to go too far down the rabbit hole when it comes to Steve Nickson, who has been linked with the Director of Football role at West Ham.
After all, I’ve done this so many times before, only to discover that the person I’ve spent hours learning about was never actually going to join the club in the first place.
But on this occasion, it does seem as though Nickson is a serious target for West Ham, even if he doesn’t end up becoming the eventual successor to Tim Steidten.
More Than Just The Signings
Nickson has been credited with helping recruit the likes of Allan Saint-Maximin, Joelinton and Bruno Guimarães to Newcastle.
But perhaps more impressively, some of the players he recommended who were ultimately rejected by Newcastle have since gone on to become some of the most recognisable names in world football.
That speaks to somebody with a very good eye for talent.
The Real Encouragement
What encourages me more than anything else, however, is the fact that there is currently someone at West Ham with enough football knowledge and perception to identify Nickson in the first place.
It’s common knowledge that Daniel Kretinsky was the driving force behind appointing Steidten as Director of Football, so we already know he considers the role to be an important one.
West Ham’s problems under David Sullivan often stemmed from a reluctance to outsource football expertise.
For too long, the former chairman appeared to believe he could oversee these matters himself.
It’s probably fair to say he was never fully convinced that a football club under his ownership needed somebody else to take charge of recruitment and transfers.
After all, he seemed to enjoy doing it himself.
A Sign Of Progress
So whether West Ham ultimately appoint Nickson or not, the very fact that he has been identified, targeted and spoken to is encouraging.
It suggests the club are finally conducting proper due diligence and looking to place experienced football people into the appropriate roles.
That, in itself, would represent a significant change from how West Ham have operated for much of our recent history.
Barry Fry II looms up on our radar.
It’s just another clusterf**k waiting to happen. Unless we win the EPL and conquer Europe, we won’t be happy.
None of these ‘football people’ have any more experience than Sullivan – and most not much better records. Of course Sully’s been prone to bad rickets, but look at our current squad…
Fernandes worth 3x what we paid, Summerville 2x, Diouf 2x, Magassa 1.5x and Kante possibly 15x. I know there’s a reverse column with his failures, but will the geniuses we’re looking at do that much better?
Looking at Nickson’s signings, none were ‘unknowns’ – even we were chasing Sven Botman. Any improvement that Newcastle made was down to the Saudi cash, not a Scout that was already there. The supposed star turn Allan Saint-Maximin only turned a £3m profit with two years left on his contract.
Just because they hold the role elsewhere doesn’t make them a universal panacea.
Definitely be refreshing to have individuals that have the required expertise in place.
Will certainly need the owners, CEO, Director of Football and recruitment team / scouts all on the same page for it to succeed.
Brighton & Brentford have done well unlike us, Spurs and Man Utd previously to name a few.
Sullivan always had the power to veto signings and gift players he liked from favoured agents. It was never going to work with Moyes, Steidten and Sullivan all having massive differences of opinion.
Nuno seems to favour Mendes recommendations but we have to look past the season ahead and have a 5/6 year strategy and improve our buying / selling of players.
Mendes in control of Fernandes next club does give me hope we will not accept a low ball offer though.
We were not a serious or well structured club with Brady & Sullivan. Only the Geordies under Ashley in the Prem can understand what we endured IMO.
So who are these players recommended by Nickson but not signed by Newcastle? And what was his involvement in letting Anderson go to Forest?
They had to sell Anderson to Forest due to PSR and academy talent is pure profit. I wonder if they inserted a sell on clause though?
The only fly in the ointment with this guy is his age. Surely if we want long term club vision and continuity we should be looking at somebody that can deliver that without being at retirement age within the next 10-15 years. Nickson is 61, a 10 year stint will perhaps see an out of touch 71 year old as our visionary.
If he is as good as people say he is then we have the immediate experience, knowledge and know how which is needed to get back on track quickly and establish the club to a higher level, which is doable in his before retirement age. Once there then we have the platform to move onto younger, hungry for success people. Makes sense to me.
I’d tend to agree KG.
The problem under Sullivan was primarily that he couldn’t or wouldn’t get out of his own way.
I can remember him being interviewed and the reporter asked for his opinion on ” football managers” role, regarding transfers,
suffice to say he wasn’t very complimentary,
citing ” they’re not genius’, well one, or two maybe”.
In other words, anything you can do, I can do better!