West Ham insider reveals bust-up – ‘It Will Get Julen Lopetegui Sacked’
Julen Lopetegui’s relationship with West Ham technical director Tim Steidten has been called into question amid growing pressure over his future at the club.
Mick Brown, who worked as a senior scout at the London Stadium until he left alongside David Moyes in June and remains very well-connected at the club, exclusively told Football Insider that their poor start to the season has led to a tense relationship.
Steidten was given the job to overhaul Lopetegui’s first-team squad during the summer, but several of the signings have failed to click, leaving the boss frustrated.
This, combined with the Hammers having won just three of their first 11 Premier League games, has led to pressure growing on the manager’s position.
This comes days after Brown told Football Insider that Steidten would play a key role in Lopetegui’s dismissal should they decide to pull the trigger.
The relationship between the technical director and manager is said to be a “major problem” for the Hammers, and also contributed to Moyes’ departure.
As a result, it is said the relationship with the new boss has also become an issue.
Julen Lopetegui and Tim Steidten in ‘tense’ relationship amid West Ham sack pressure
Brown explained that the relationship between a manager and sporting director is something he has rarely seen end well as they often become opposed to each other.
The former scout, who has a wealth of experience working closely with managers including the likes of Ron Atkinson and Sir Alex Ferguson, insisted that Lopetegui’s relationship with Steidten could be what gets him sacked in similar fashion to Moyes.
“I’ve never been a believer in having a sporting director at the top,” he told Football Insider.
“That relationship with the manager only works if they are in agreement that they can work together.
“Too often, they become like opposition to each other. That’s not just the case at West Ham, I’ve heard loads of cases where things are similar.
“Of course, there are situations where it does work, but in most cases I’ve seen, it doesn’t.
“At West Ham, from what I’ve heard, the two of them haven’t exactly got off to a great start.
“Several of their signings haven’t turned up so far, and then that comes back and the manager is the one who has to deal with it.
“So it’s a bit tense between them, and understandably so from the manager’s point of view.
“I see that to be the major problem at West Ham.
“It was part of why they let Moysey go, and it’ll probably be what gets Lopetegui sacked too because Steidten has been put in a more powerful position than the managers.”
In other news, a “certain” update has emerged on Mohammed Kudus’ future.
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