Will Still offers ‘guilty’ response to West Ham United job amid David Moyes sack talk
Will Still has admitted that he would be forced to think twice about becoming West Ham United manager, should the opportunity arise.
The Reims boss, who is an avid Hammers supporter has been in charge of the Ligue 1 side since 2022 and led them on a 17-match unbeaten run. So far this season Reims have been in excellent form this season, sitting fifth in the table.
While David Moyes isn’t under any obvious threat yet at the London Stadium, his contract with West Ham does expire at the end of the season, with many suggesting that Still would be the perfect candidate to replace the Scotsman.
As quoted by SudInfo (8 November) he said: “In the short term, I want to sign a full season with Reims and finish as high as possible. For the rest, it’s my problem: I’ve never had a career plan. I take what comes.
“But I admit that the little child in me wants to go back to England. It’s my home, it’s my championship, the best in the world. I have always been a supporter of West Ham.
“I would think about it [coaching West Ham] twice but would I be able to? I would feel too guilty in the event of defeat. But the Premier League and Europe are clearly two major objectives.”
Possibility
There is an element of romanticism in the thought of a Hammers supporter taking over the reins at the London Stadium and leading them into a new era following the end of Moyes’ tenure, but currently, it doesn’t feel like an imminent move.
Still is right to question whether or not his role as a fan and manager of the club may clash if he were to take over the position as he may be too connected with the club emotionally to separate his personal and professional feelings in the high-pressure moments.
Should Still continue to impress in France, he is more than likely to be on the radar of several clubs both in the Premier League and beyond. His young age makes him an attractive prospect but also means that he still represents a relatively risky appointment.
If West Ham continue their poor recent run of form, pressure is only going to continue to mount on Moyes and calls for his sacking will likely increase. If and when the decision is made to relieve the Scotsman of his duties, you can almost guarantee that Still will be linked with the job.
It will just be a case of whether or not he feels like he can put the guilt of being a supporter to the side.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers have been linked with a January move for Kelechi Iheanacho