Sullivan sounding out options as the pressure builds on Potter

Graham Potter is facing the biggest test of his short reign as West Ham United manager so far. A string of poor results has left the team sliding down the Premier League table, and patience is beginning to wear thin both in the stands and in the boardroom.

Performances have been flat, defensively all over the shop and the London Stadium has been emptied by the 64th minute in both home games so far this season. Many are questioning whether Potter is the man to take the club forward.

While the board are not yet pressing the panic button, there is growing acknowledgement that results must improve quickly if Potter is to hold onto his job. Saturday’s clash with Crystal Palace has already been described as make-or-break by some around the club, and the fact that David Sullivan is exploring possible successors shows how fragile the situation has become.

Succession planning talks taking place

Respected journalist Ben Jacobs has quoted the following in a recent article for GiveMeSport:

"There are a few candidates that have come under consideration. Slaven Bilic is one of them. From what I'm told, for succession planning rather than an interview, some outreach has been made by the owner, David Sullivan, to Bilic.
Bilic is relatively high in Sullivan's thinking. Nuno Espirito Santo and Sean Dyche are out of work. Gary O'Neil is another name that has been mentioned internally at West Ham United."

West Ham officials have held discussions with Nuno Espirito Santo.

Slaven Bilic is also a contender to return to replace the under-pressure Potter.

Gary O’Neil, who is a client of Will Salthouse, is also keen to take the job.

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Slaven Bilic – A Return on the Cards?

Few names stir emotions among West Ham supporters quite like Slaven Bilic. The Croatian remains a popular figure for guiding the Hammers to a memorable final season at Upton Park in 2015/16, capped by victories over Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United.

His tenure unravelled quickly at the London Stadium and the loss of Dimitri Payet, but his attachment to the club and attacking brand of football will always carry weight with the fanbase. Sullivan’s reported outreach suggests he could be seen as a stabilising, short-term solution if things turn sour under Potter.

Nuno Espirito Santo – Premier League Pedigree

Nuno has built a solid reputation in England with Wolves and Nottingham Forest by guiding both clubs to European football for the first times in years. While his stint at Spurs was short-lived and now almost forgotten, his ability to organise teams and build strong defensive structures is well established and something West Ham are currently missing. He is Premier League experienced and an immediately available candidate, which are two huge ticks from the David Sullivan managerial hire checklist.

Sean Dyche – Survival Specialist

The former Burnley and Everton boss is synonymous with grit and resilience. Sean Dyche kept Burnley punching above their weight in the Premier League for nearly a decade, as well as keeping Everton in the Premier League for two seasons, but questions remain over whether his pragmatic style would fit the West Ham squad and supporters’ expectations. His name will always come up when a Premier League club is in trouble, and West Ham are no exception, though fan reception may be mixed.

Gary O’Neil – A Rising Managerial Prospect

Still early in his managerial career, Gary O’Neil has impressed with his ability to steady troubled sides. He kept Bournemouth in the Premier League and his work at Wolves has earned plaudits for getting the most out of limited resources. Seen as a progressive, up-and-coming coach, O’Neil could be viewed as a longer-term project if West Ham wanted to take a gamble on youth and fresh ideas. A client of Will Salthouse, so he is one definitely keeping an eye on.

What Next?

For now, Potter remains in the dugout and has the chance to change the narrative with a result against Palace. But the fact that Sullivan has begun considering replacements underlines the precarious position the manager finds himself in. A win could ease the tension, but anything less may leave the West Ham board with a difficult decision to make — and a shortlist of candidates already forming.