Richard Keys has called for a second West Ham sacking to follow hot on the heels of Graham Potter’s dismissal as legend Tony Cottee launches a furious tirade.
West Ham well and truly hit the panic button on Saturday as they sacked Graham Potter just 48 hours out from the Everton game.
In comes Nuno Espirito Santo, fresh from his own sacking at Nottingham Forest.
The way the situation has been handled by West Ham’s board has drawn criticism from fans, pundits and journalists.
There were incredible scenes as Nuno took West Ham training before being officially unveiled almost immediately after Potter was let go.
West Ham board spark controversy with handling of Potter sacking
Majority owner David Sullivan jetted for a holiday in Spain following West Ham’s 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace last weekend, which saw around 4,000 fans protest at his entrance to the London Stadium.
It was from that holiday that Sullivan reportedly informed Potter he was being let go after making the decision on Friday night.
Potter told his players on Saturday morning with claims from some quarters that they were shocked.
The timing may well have been a shock given it caught most off guard so close to the Toffees clash.
Particularly after Potter had taken the pre-match press conference and training as normal.
The players can look at themselves as well if they are shocked Potter has been let go.
Under him the Hammers won just six of 25 matches and performances have been getting worse, not better.
West Ham fans know who they think is to blame, with the handling of Potter’s dismissal being cited as the latest example of the haphazard way the board run their club.
When pressure falls on the shoulders of owners, they almost always change the manager.
But fan group Hammers United are telling supporters not to give up their fight to force the ownership to sell or step aside just because a new man has come in the door.
Keys wants second West Ham sacking as Cottee unleashes tirade
They have some high profile backing too.
Richard Keys has called for a second West Ham sacking as club legend Tony Cottee unleashes a tirade at the owners.
The primary targets of West Ham supporter protests are Sullivan and vice-chair Karren Brady.
Their slogan, for what they vow will be a season-long campaign of activism, even uses their initials ‘No More BS’.
If Sullivan and Brady thought sacking Potter and bringing in Nuno would deflect attention away from them then they are mistaken.
Because Keys is now calling for Brady to go next.
“Karren Brady should follow Potter out of the door,” Keys said on X.
“Remember (when she said) ‘we’ve appointed the right man to continue our success. Everything is in place’.
“Clearly not. What a shambles.”
Legendary Hammers striker Cottee went even further.
Cottee has described the situation unfolding at West Ham as a ‘fiasco’ and savaged ‘dreadful’ Sullivan and Brady, saying they must leave the club.
“As usual, the fiasco at West Ham is handled with a total lack of class!” Cottee said.
“The players will be delighted to have their fourth manager in 16 months?!!!!!!!!!
“What a shambles.
“As I’ve said before, though, nothing will ever change until this dreadful ownership has left the club!”
In their statement announcing Potter’s sacking, West Ham said results and performances over the course of the second half of last season and the start of this ‘have not matched expectations’.
It goes on to state that the board of directors believe a change was necessary in order to help improve the team’s position in the Premier League as soon as possible.
Fans shared that view but more so about them.
The man who has just been handed his P45 from Spain has at least brought some much-needed dignity to the unsavoury soap opera as Potter bowed out of West Ham with a farewell of pure class.
