Matt Le Tissier reacts to what West Ham fans are doing to David Sullivan and Karren Brady
West Ham supporters are fully entitled to protest against their board’s failures as they face a Premier League relegation battle this season.
That is according to Premier League legend Matt Le Tissier, who has exclusively told Football Insider that fans of the East London outfit have every right to voice their opinions as they are the ones putting money into the club.
West Ham have enjoyed some successful years in recent times under the stewardship of chairman and majority shareholder David Sullivan, but things have gone badly in recent times and fans have reacted accordingly.
Sullivan and vice-chair Karren Brady disagreed over hiring a new West Ham manager last month after Graham Potter was sacked, and new boss Nuno Espirito Santo has struggled to make an impact so far since being hired with the club still in the bottom three.
Hammers fans have protested outside the London Stadium this season and thousands of them boycotted their game against Brentford last week, with calls for clear changes at the top as they slide towards potential relegation from the top-flight.
Sullivan and Brady are under real pressure at West Ham
Sullivan made the clear mistake of hiring Julen Lopetegui last year after David Moyes’ departure, in a move which effectively wrote off their season as the Portuguese boss was then let go in January after a poor start.
That seemed to be the beginning of the club’s current issues, with Potter unable to improve their form prior to his sacking in September and their struggles now continuing under Nuno.
Fans have regularly chanted anti-Sullivan and Brady songs in the stands this season, and they are now under real pressure to get things right over the next seven months to avoid the drop.
West Ham currently sit 19th in the Premier League with just four points from their opening nine games after a 2-1 defeat to Leeds last Friday (24 October).
Le Tissier says West Ham supporters are right to protest against the board
Football Insider revealed on 21 October that the West Ham board plan to back Nuno in January with the obvious aim of getting out of relegation trouble this season.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, former England and Southampton striker Le Tissier backed the West Ham supporters, particularly those that attend their games, to continue their protests if they feel the club is not being run correctly.
He said: “Well, the fans pay their money to go and watch, so they’re entitled to their opinion.
“And so if they want to protest, if they think things aren’t going right and the owners aren’t doing right by the club, then they’re well within their rights to make that known.“