Exclusive: West Ham board’s stance on Julen Lopetegui sack revealed
West Ham chiefs are reluctant to rush into sacking Julen Lopetegui despite growing pressure, the club’s recently-departed senior scout has revealed.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Mick Brown, who worked in the recruitment team at the London Stadium for years until his departure in June, revealed that the board would be wary of making another mistake by dismissing the manager so early in the season.
However, he confessed that the pressure mounting on Lopetegui’s position means results will need to pick up quickly to keep his job.
After one win in their opening six Premier League games, the Hammers have suffered their worst-ever start to a season, and questions are now being asked of the boss.
Football Insider revealed on 21 September that the board are willing to give him time to get his ideas across and for his new players to adapt to the Premier League.
However, a 1-1 draw with Brentford last time out means the Hammers have taken just five points from six games, with fans demanding rapid improvements.
After David Moyes led them to victory in the Europa Conference League and had them regularly qualifying for Europe, Brown has insisted the pressure on Lopetegui is higher than ever.
Julen Lopetegui faces growing sack pressure at West Ham
While he confessed it would be difficult to predict what the board will do, Brown revealed that they are determined not to rush into a decision and make a mistake.
He went on to explain that, if results don’t improve soon, the weight of expectation could prove too much and the board’s hand could be forced.
“I think there’s more pressure on him after what David Moyes managed to do,” he told Football Insider.
“When 60,000 people are saying they don’t want this and they want a different type of football, the board have had to be careful with their decision.
“It’s always difficult trying to judge what the owners and directors will do. Their knowledge of the game is not great and they’ve made many mistakes in the past.
“They were warned to be careful what they wished for, but having made that decision [replacing Moyes with Lopetegui], they’re wary of making another mistake.
“I don’t know Lopetegui and I don’t know how he works, but if we’re looking at the results he’s had so far, which is what the game is about, he’s definitely at risk.
“Results will need to improve because one win in six games isn’t good enough after what David Moyes has done.”
In other news, Exclusive: West Ham ‘looking for new investors’ after boardroom bust-up.
For more West Ham news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.