Paul Heckingbottom sack decision shared live on Sky Sports ahead of West Ham v Sheffield United match
Sheffield United intend to stick with manager Paul Heckingbottom for next weekend’s Premier League clash with West Ham, according to Sky Sports.
The Blades were on the end of an 8-0 thrashing at the hands of Newcastle United at Bramall Lane on Sunday [24 September] – a record league defeat for the club.
Heckingbottom’s future has been called into question with United bottom of the table, but the Englishman looks set to be in the dugout at London Stadium next Saturday [30 September].
In an update on the managerial situation on Monday [25 September], Vicky Gomersall said on Sky Sports News, via Football Daily on Twitter: “Despite the 8-0 defeat at Bramall Lane, we understand that Paul Heckingbottom is expected to be in charge for the game at West Ham.
“Heckingbottom has the support of the board despite currently being bottom of the Premier League so far with no wins from six games.”
Good news
Not many would have been surprised to see next Premier League opponents Sheffield United part company with their manager on the back of the Newcastle game.
It was a truly embarrassing performance from the Blades, who already look certainties for the drop having only just returned to the division from the Championship.
In many ways, the fact they are keeping hold of Heckingbottom must be considered a positive for West Ham, as it is hard to see them turning things around too drastically in the space of six days.
Had a new manager been brought in, even if it was an assistant temporarily stepping up, United may have experienced the classic ‘new manager bounce’.
West Ham will now enter next weekend’s contest on home soil as overwhelming favourites to get back to winning ways after back-to-back league defeats.
Anything less simply will not do.
In other West Ham news, a youngster produced a star-in-the-making display for his loan club at the weekend.