By Peter Lynch

19th Mar, 2023 | 6:40pm

No time like present for West Ham United to sack David Moyes as replacements linked

The international break could provide the West Ham hierarchy with the perfect opportunity to sack David Moyes and quickly find a successor.

Moyes has found himself under constant pressure this season, with Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick reportedly prominent on the shortlist of replacements should the Scot be sacked [Sunday People].

Former Liverpool and Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez meanwhile is on standby and wants the job at the London Stadium, according to the Daily Mail.

The Hammers have been flying high in the Europa Conference League this season, topping their group before the turn of the year with six wins from six.

A 6-0 aggregate win against AEK Larnaca followed in the round of 16, with West Ham now handed a tie against Belgian side Gent in the quarter-finals of the competition.

But the superb form in Europe has not stopped many fans from focusing on the domestic struggles, with the club currently sitting in the Premier League relegation zone.

As has happened previously in the Premier League, it may be the case that the east London outfit relieves Moyes of his duties, hire a manager for the remainder of the campaign and look for a more permanent successor in the summer.

Given the club’s Europa Conference League run and indeed their Europa League run last season, it may seem a harsh decision to sack Moyes, but it would simply reinforce how important staying in the Premier League is.

Such a miserable campaign has led to rumours linking former West Ham midfielder Carrick to the role, with the manager currently doing a fine job in the Championship with Middlesbrough.

The financial incentives are just one reason why the club’s hierarchy will want to remain in the top flight, and so they may instead turn to someone with huge experience like Benitez to try and do just that.

The Spaniard has coached some of the biggest clubs in world football and would have plenty of time to settle into life at the London Stadium if he was appointed ahead of the upcoming international break.

Of course, the club has players involved for their respective nations, but any new incoming manager will certainly have more time now than during any other period of the remainder of the season.

The pressure was already firm on Moyes, but that has now increased even further after fellow strugglers Southampton, Leicester and Everton all picked up valuable points on Saturday (18 March).

Leeds meanwhile earned a huge three points at Wolves, with the results leaving West Ham just one point off the bottom, an unthinkable situation at the start of the campaign.