‘Vicious’ – Ex-West Ham goalkeeper Joe Hart piles pressure on David Sullivan and co. amid fan unrest
Joe Hart had an unsuccessful loan spell at West Ham in the 2017/18 season.
The goalkeeper had been a regular at Manchester City before Pep Guardiola was appointed, and he was shipped out on loan.
Hart has continued to keep in touch with his former West Ham teammates and recently sent Declan Rice a congratulatory message when his goals guided Arsenal past Real Madrid in the Champions League.
Hart joined at an unsavory time for former West Ham manager Slaven Bilic, whose side were on the edge of the relegation zone when the Croatian was sacked in November 2017.
Joe Hart stands by West Ham fans after recent protests
Bilic has again been linked with the West Ham job, as Graham Potter’s time at the London Stadium looks to be coming to an end.
There has been plenty of disruption at the start of this season, with West Ham fans lining the streets in protest against David Sullivan.
It’s not the first time Sullivan has come under fire from Hammers fans, with the Welsh businessman heavily critiqued for the move from Upton Park to the London Stadium in 2016.
With fans calling for big changes in East London, former West Ham keeper Hart has recalled a similar period during his time with the Hammers.
- West Ham finished 13th in the 2017/18 Premier League season
- David Moyes managed them from the edge of the relegation zone to safety with two games to spare
- Hart went on to play for Burnley, Tottenham, and Celtic before retiring in 2024
“It was tough, I was part of a team that didn’t perform, and at the time it got quite vicious”, he told BBC’s Football Daily.
“At West Ham it’s been rumbling for some time and I feel for you [West Ham fans] because you stand by the club and you’re wanting change and direction, but it’s been hard to find the direction.
“It’s the same as how I felt at Tottenham, it’s just not quite united.”
- Read more: ‘Behind the scenes’ issues emerge at West Ham as Graham Potter makes point to David Sullivan
Can David Sullivan turn it around at West Ham again?
During the unrest between supporters in 2017, Sullivan managed to put it to rest by appointing David Moyes.
He faces a much different situation this time round, with the Hammers’ summer transfer business falling far short of expectations.
However, sacking Potter would get some fans on board as they grow impatient for change.
The Welsh businessman appears willing to wait until the October international break, by which time fans could become too impatient.
The Irons could also miss out on managerial target Nuno Espirito Santo, who has expertise in getting teams out of trouble.
Should Sullivan move quickly to sack Potter and bring in a strong replacement, he still has a chance of getting fans back onside.
However, delaying the decision will only create more frustration and could make the relationship between fans and the owner too distant.
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