Richard Keys brutalises Graham Potter in shock accusation after West Ham hire

Graham Potter's ambition will be under scrutiny at West Ham United after spending two years "just taking Chelsea's money", Richard Keys has said.

Keys posted on X (9 January) in reaction to the news that the Hammers had hired Potter to succeed Julen Lopetegui at the London Stadium, and believed the task at hand could be too big for him.

Agreeing with Simon Jordan's own less-than-complementary verdict of Potter, Keys wasn't happy the 49-year-old has taken almost two years out of the game since being sacked by Chelsea in April 2023.

He said: "I think Graham is going to have to be more Harry Potter to get ‘success’ at West Ham – I’d question his ambition following 2 years sitting on his backside just taking Chelsea’s money.

"I think Simon Jordan called him a ‘flake’. I’d agree."

Graham Potter can prove Richard Keys wrong at West Ham

Potter biding his time before returning to management will be a double-edged sword in the eyes of Irons fans, given he's chosen them to make his comeback 21 months after his departure from Chelsea.

The highly-rated Potter will hope he's chosen wisely, albeit the only worry for the Hammers faithful will be the potential of rustiness – especially given his first game against Aston Villa is in just one day's time.

What won't be worrying East Londoners, however, is that Potter has been "just taking Chelsea's money", given they're no fans of Potter's former employers, and that Chelsea only have themselves to blame.

Potter certainly didn't choose to be sacked when he did – seven months into a five-year contract – and that hefty pay-off has given him the time to pick and choose the next job he takes.

Keys' verdict won't count for much in Potter's mind, but with Friday's match against Villa being almost two years in the making for him, the new Hammers manager will be hoping to get off to a winning start.

In other West Ham news, a forgotten Irons man is heading for the exit with one club abroad’s directors ready to sanction a deal.

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