West Ham: Michail Antonio takes aim at David Sullivan’s short-term vision as sympathy for Nuno shared
Ex-West Ham United striker Michail Antonio has indirectly taken a swipe at David Sullivan’s lack of long-term planning as one of the reasons for relegation.
The Hammers ended their 14-year Premier League stay last weekend following a 3-0 win to Leeds United that didn’t matter in the end due to Tottenham Hotspur’s victory against Everton.
Nuno Espirito Santo looks to be staying at the London Stadium, but Sullivan and Co. now have the task of raising a reported £150million to help balance the books in E20.
Many players and pundits have weighed in on the Irons’ failures this season, with some taking aim at the club’s hierarchy.
However, not many will know how West Ham is run better than Antonio, who spent nearly a decade with the Hammers.
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Michail Antonio says West Ham only plan one year in advance
Sullivan has taken a lot of criticism this season, and West Ham supporters have even protested at the London Stadium.
There have been backroom changes as of late, as former chief Karren Brady left the club earlier this year, while the ownership is now essentially split between Sullivan and Daniel Kretisnky.
| Area | Stats |
| Games | 323 |
| Goals | 83 |
| Trophies | 1 (Conference League) |
| Time spent at club | Sep 2015 – Jun 2025 |
After being involved in a serious car crash incident, Antonio’s time with the Hammers came to an end last summer, which saw him clock out of the London Stadium with 323 appearances to his name for the club.
While speaking on The Sport Agents, the now Al-Sailiya star pointed out the problems at the top of West Ham, and as everyone knows, Sullivan and Co. are the ones who make the big calls.
Antonio said: “In my eyes, this is the problem with the club. They never plan four, five, or six years ahead. They [the board] are always planning for the season ahead of them. I feel like there needs to be someone there who thinks over a four to six-year plan, and things would be a lot better.”
The 35-year-old was then asked if he has any sympathy for Nuno at all.
Antonio replied: “Yeah, 100%. It wasn’t until he got his staff in and the necessary players that it picked up.”
Sullivan has chopped and changed lots of different things, being a key decision-maker in significant moves that have led West Ham to be relegated.
Antonio’s comments are ironic given new West Ham want
West Ham are now in the process of adding new faces to the boardroom ahead of a restructure behind the scenes to get the club back to the Premier League.
The Hammers are said to be keen on bringing Middlesbrough’s head of football, Kieran Scott, to the London Stadium, someone who is highly rated in the EFL for his work.
Antonio’s comments are ironic because what he’s saying about Sullivan and Co. needing to have a structure to oversee progress is true.
But they are only now starting to realise that when the club’s relegation has been confirmed, something that could have been avoided a long, long time ago.