West Ham fans have been angered by the board’s refusal to sack Julen Lopetegui as he is given yet another stay of execution.
The calendar year of 2024 was almost a complete write-off for West Ham.
Between David Moyes and Julen Lopetegui, the Hammers managed just 11 Premier League wins last year.
Depressingly, it was rather fitting that West Ham ended the year with that demoralising 5-0 defeat to Liverpool.
The atmosphere, or rather lack of it, at the London Stadium only lifted briefly when West Ham fans raised their voices to jeer their terrible team off the pitch at half-time.
There were barely any left by the final whistle and who could blame them.
West Ham have shipped more than three goals on eight occasions in the first half of the season under Lopetegui.
There is nothing for Hammers fans to even hang their hat on in terms of a style or philosophy.
When West Ham’s hardcore away fans turned on the manager at Leicester, the owners held an emergency summit.
But they elected to stand by him one last time.
Telegraph share real reason West Ham haven’t sacked Lopetegui
Word is that was merely to buy more time to scope out potential replacements.
Graham Potter has reportedly since agreed to take the West Ham job on an initial six-month contract.
Despite the Liverpool drubbing, though, the Hammers hierarchy refused to budge once more.
West Ham’s owners have told Hammers News they are ‘hoping for better in 2025’.
Meanwhile it’s been claimed there is now ‘huge pressure’ for results and performances to improve.
And that games away at Man City and Aston Villa will be key to Lopetegui’s future.
Many observers and supporters believe the club are just kicking the can down the road and delaying the inevitable.
But now The Telegraph have shared the real reason West Ham haven’t sacked Lopetegui and fans will be furious.
Speaking about their plans for the January transfer window, the Hammers have said they are at their limit in terms of PSR.
Therefore money will need to be raised through sales or fresh investment.
Now Jason Burt has made a claim that will push many Hammers supporters over the edge regarding the owners.
Hammers fans will be furious with owners after PSR claim
The Telegraph reporter says the performance against Liverpool did cause ‘fresh alarm within the club’s hierarchy’ after they came close to sacking him following the defeat at Leicester.
The passive nature of players as well as Lopetegui’s tactics have led to renewed scrutiny over his future.
But West Ham fans may need to be sitting down for the next part of Burt’s claim.
Because astonishingly, it is stated that one of the reasons Lopetegui has not yet been replaced is PSR.
It’s reported that the cost to the club of sacking the 58-year-old and his throng of staff and then bringing in a new manager and assistants is making the Hammers hesitate,
“Given profitability and sustainability rules constraints, there would also be the cost of replacing him and his backroom staff to be factored in,” Burt states.
Lopetegui is on around £3.5m per year at West Ham.
So his pay off would likely cost the Hammers over £5m at this stage.
His staff include:
- Pablo Sanz – Assistant Head Coach.
- Oscar Caro – Head of Performance and Assistant Coach.
- Juan Vicente Peinado – Head Analyst and Assistant Coach.
- Borja De Alba – Fitness Coach.
- Edu Rubio – Technical Coach.
- Xavi Valero – Goalkeeper Coach.
Any new manager’s wages and those of staff he brings in would then have to be factored in too.
But for PSR to even be a consideration when it comes to sacking a manager that is completely failing on every level is simply unacceptable.
Especially when this is the most wide open Premier League season for 12 years.
And particularly as the Hammers started the season aiming to qualify for Europe.
This revelation will undoubtedly turn up the heat on the owners to act.
A manager’s fate should be decided solely on his performance in the dugout and that of his team on the pitch,
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