Key Takeaways:
- On Wednesday evening, West Ham’s management issued a forthright statement criticising recent results and performances
- Despite spending £125million in the summer, West Ham have managed only one win from their opening five matches, conceding 11 goals in the first four league fixtures
- Slaven Bilic, Nuno Espirito Santo, and Sean Dyche are being lined up as potential replacements should Graham Potter be relieved of his duties
Manager Under Pressure After Rocky Start
Graham Potter, who took charge at West Ham in January, has come under intense scrutiny following a lacklustre start to the current campaign. The Hammers have managed just a single victory in their first five outings across all competitions, suffering heavy defeats at the hands of Sunderland, Chelsea, and Tottenham. With the side entrenched in the Premier League relegation zone after conceding 11 times in only four games, the pressure has mounted considerably on the former Brighton and Chelsea boss.
Slaven Bilic a contender to make a surprise return to West Ham if Graham Potter is sacked.
Owner David Sullivan favours turning to former boss Bilic.
Out of work pair Nuno Espirito Santo and Sean Dyche have also been discussed.⚒️
🤝 @alex_crook pic.twitter.com/hu309UZgDm
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) September 18, 2025
Recruitment Plans Underway as Results Falter
In light of these struggles, West Ham’s hierarchy issued a candid statement on Wednesday evening, expressing clear dissatisfaction with both performances and outcomes stretching as far back as the last two seasons. The management acknowledged that internal reviews are ongoing to inform an improved future strategy. Their message underlined a focus on rebuilding the club’s competitive edge, with the 2025/26 season marking a record 14th consecutive year in the Premier League.
SportingPedia sources claim that club officials are actively developing contingency plans in case Potter is dismissed. Slaven Bilic, a former West Ham manager and player, is believed to be among a trio of candidates in consideration for the London Stadium hotseat.
Potential Successors: Bilic, Nuno, and Dyche
Bilic, now 57, previously spent just over a season in East London as a player before making his managerial mark. He originally took charge in 2015, guiding the club to seventh place in his first year, but was dismissed in November 2017. Since his departure, Bilic has experienced several challenging spells at various sides, including a recent stint with Al Fateh in Saudi Arabia.
The shortlist reportedly includes Nuno Espirito Santo, who recently departed Nottingham Forest after only a few days out of work. The Portuguese manager was sacked despite securing European football at Forest, amid tension with owner Evangelos Marinakis. Sean Dyche is also in the frame, having remained unattached since leaving Everton – a move which coincided with Potter’s arrival at West Ham.
| Manager | Recent Club(s) | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Slaven Bilic | Al Fateh | Unattached |
| Nuno Espirito Santo | Nottingham Forest | Recently sacked |
| Sean Dyche | Everton | Out of work |
Potter’s Appointment and Squad Investment
Potter’s appointment earlier this year was widely lauded, with optimism buoyed after a turbulent period under Julen Lopetegui. However, West Ham’s decline has continued despite an outlay of £125million during the summer transfer window, leaving many to expect a stronger start to the campaign.
Upcoming Fixtures and Critical Home Clash
West Ham will seek to reverse their fortunes this Saturday afternoon as they host Crystal Palace, aiming for their first home victory of the season. The following week, a trip to Everton awaits, adding further significance to Potter’s immediate future at the club.
Official Statement from West Ham Board
The club’s hierarchy reiterated their ambitions: “First, we accept that results and performances on the pitch over the past two seasons have not met the standards we set for ourselves.
“Nobody at the club is satisfied with that and the Board of Directors have spent a great deal of time looking at the decisions that have been made across the football operation, in order to inform an improved strategy going forward.
“Our focus now is firmly on the future and building a team that can once again compete consistently in domestic competitions and in Europe. We have a strong platform from which to continue that quest, in that we are entering our 14th consecutive season in the Premier League – our longest unbroken top-flight run in the modern era.”
