Hammers News has sensationally revealed that West Ham’s director of football, Tim Steidten, does not want his name associated with the hiring of new head coach Julen Lopetegui. In a move perceived as an attempt to distance himself from the appointment, blame has been firmly placed at the feet of the Hammers’ chairman, David Sullivan.
Most West Ham fans had assumed that Lopetegui was Sullivan’s choice; however, the article suggests that Steidten warned against appointing the Spaniard. Hammers News cites journalist Graeme Bailey, who asserts that while Steidten finalised the deal for Lopetegui, the Spaniard was not his choice.
Bailey appears well-briefed on the situation, and one can only assume that Steidten is aware this information will reach the public. The Irons’ head of football has previously aroused suspicions about his contacts within the media, as seen this summer when select journalists leaked news about Jean-Clair Todibo and Mohammed Kudus’ buyout clauses.
This situation does not bode well for West Ham, as the director of football seems to be throwing the chairman under the bus regarding the appointment of the former Real Madrid and Spanish national boss. This bombshell creates an unwanted and awkward dynamic between Lopetegui and Steidten, which had previously seemed positive. Last season, Steidten was banned from the West Ham training ground and the London Stadium dressing room by former manager David Moyes, who believed the director of football had a conflict of interest.