West Ham United may be forced into David Moyes sack decision after resignation update in last 12 hours
There has been plenty of speculation surrounding David Moyes’ future at West Ham United given the Irons’ recent poor form in the Premier League.
Heading into the clash with Nottingham Forest, the Hammers haven’t won a Premier League match in four attempts and pressure is beginning to mount on the Scotsman with some fans calling for a change of management at the London Stadium.
There had been suggestions that West Ham were keen to move Moyes upstairs into a director of football position, but sources close to the manager suggest that he wants to continue as a manager, “ideally at West Ham” [Alan Nixon, 12 November].
Those close to Moyes reportedly “scoffed” at the suggestion he should become the Hammers’ director of football and “insiders” have insisted that talks of the 60-year-old’s future at the London Stadium will begin soon.
Whether or not you believe that Moyes deserves more time to turn West Ham’s fortunes around, or if you think the Irons need a change at the top, it is clear the only way the former Manchester United boss will be departing East London will be if he is sacked, rather than resigning.
Managers don’t tend to resign in the modern era of football, given the financial implications that action had compared to the reasonable payout most managers experience when they are sacked by a club, so Moyes’ decision shouldn’t come as a shock.
There is an argument that supporters who are calling for a change of manager are out of line, given West Ham’s success in Europe, their impressive run to the Carabao Cup semi-finals and their fantastic initial start to the Premier League season.
All of this comes following a Europe Conference League win last season and it seems surprising just how many supporters want arguably their best manager of the modern era to be given his marching orders.
But should performances and results continue to be an issue in the coming weeks at the London Stadium, especially in the Premier League, David Sullivan may be forced to take action and sack Moyes, rather than wait for him to walk of his own accord.
It doesn’t feel as though any sort of decision is on the immediate horizon, but international breaks can make owners twitchy. Should the Irons head into the November break without a win in five league outings, it could be the final nail in Moyes’ coffin.
In other West Ham news, Will Still has responded to suggestions that he could succeed Moyes at the London Stadium