West Ham problems mount as Man United pounce for hugely popular figure
West Ham United are going through a bad times of things both on and off the field right now.
David Sullivan is coming under fire at West Ham for a string of bad decisions that are now catching up with the Hammers.
West Ham are under serious relegation danger as they are five points adrift of safety as we approach the halfway mark this week.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s full focus will be on the Hammers’ London derby with Fulham on Saturday.
Even the build-up to that match has been a farce, with Nuno’s pre-Fulham press conference being cut short in comical scenes.
And it now appears Sullivan will have to replace another West Ham figure behind the scenes early in the New Year.
Man United nab Cat Smith from West Ham
West Ham fans will only care about transfer business right now, in what is the biggest window for the Irons in recent memory.
However, there is also some activity going off away from the field. According to The Sun, Man United have raided West Ham to bring in Cat Smith as their new director of communications.
Smith was the head of supporter services and fan engagement at the London Stadium, but she will start her new position at Old Trafford early in 2026.
It is said to be part of a major overhaul by Sir Jim Ratcliffe at Man United to help improve the communications side of things.
Smith may not be as well known as Jarrod Bowen, Lucas Paqueta and Co. but she is a highly regarded figure at West Ham.
Respected journalist Henry Winter reacted to the news via his personal X account on Tuesday as he wrote: “West Ham fans understandably frustrated to lose Cat Smith, the highly regarded Supporters’ Liaison Officer.”
Smith worked closely with the Wets Ham fanbase and will now leave a void to be filled.
Smith exit one of a number of issues David Sullivan must resolve
Sullivan may not be directly involved in the hiring of Smith’s replacement, but he ought to be.
If West Ham need one thing right now it is a better connection between those high up and the fanbase.
| Position | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points |
| 18 | 17 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 13 |
A Supporter Liaison Officer – or any sort of equivalent – can act as a gatekeeper between the two.
While it is true there are bigger problems to resolve right now, this is just one of many issues at beleaguered West Ham.
The top priority is bringing in a new striker and helping to settle down a disgruntled fanbase. But doing that will be easier said than done.
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