Potter told West Ham’s players of his impending departure when they gathered at the club’s Essex training centre on Saturday morning.There is understood to have been an element of shock from the squad. Given he had taken Friday’s media conference to preview Monday’s trip to Everton, there was every expectation from the players that Potter would be handed another opportunity to salvage his job.Potter retained the support of certain senior players despite poor results. By the same token, there were others not so enamoured by the former Chelsea head coach’s approach. The fact Potter remained in situ was a factor for at least one player who sought a move away from West Ham during the summer window.That isn’t unusual; rarely does a manger have universal backing from his squad.As he reflects on his time at West Ham, Potter may ask himself whether he was ever afforded the conditions to succeed.He was – to a point. The club appointed Kyle Macaulay as head of recruitment shortly after Potter’s appointment. Macaulay has a long-standing relationship with Potter, and is now almost certain to leave in the not-too-distant future.But, ultimately, West Ham is West Ham. In terms of recruitment, the manager will rarely have the grasp on transfers he believes he needs.Sullivan – more often than not – runs that side of things, though there has has been a clear move from him and the club’s board towards a more modern executive model in recent years. The appointment of Tim Steidten in 2023 as the club’s first technical director appeared to indicate Sullivan was ready to relinquish at least a semblance of his power.Similarly, multiple sources have indicated Sullivan’s son Jack – a director at the club – is becoming increasingly key behind the scenes, and is keen to have a greater influence moving forward.In his mid-70s, Sullivan appeared to be winding down.But it has not gone unnoticed that the internal restructuring hasn’t gone according to plan.”West Ham were better off when Sullivan was in full control,” said one source.Large swathes of the fanbase may beg to differ with that statement, of course.For them, Sullivan and the board are at the heart of a perceived lack of progression.But it is worth remembering that in the three seasons prior to Steidten’s appointment, West Ham finished sixth, seventh and 14th, as well as winning the Europa Conference League under David Moyes in 2023.Despite the current angst, you’d imagine West Ham supporters long for that level of success.With Steidten long gone and Macaulay set to follow, all eyes – not for the first time – are on Sullivan. And Nuno, of course.
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West Ham: Why Nuno Espirito Santo has replaced Graham Potter as head coach
