After proving unpopular with both David Moyes and Julen Lopetegui – for just doing his job – it certainly looks as if Tim Steidten’s influence at London Stadium appears to be on the wane.
There is known dissatisfaction at the club over the signings of Guilherme and Fullkrug and their lack of impact: The end of Lopetegui and the recruitment of Graham Potter has been the subject of conjecture with Karren Brady’s role in both being seen as doing some of Steidten’s work for him.
Famously dubbed the ‘Sneaky Weasel’ by Richard Keys, Steidten’s role, tp be fair, includes having to recruit new head coaches whilst the current one is still in situ – which has twice led to him being banned from the dressing room.
I’m not sure he was bothered one bit.
However there are signs that change at West Ham may not be limited to the head coaches’ role.
Gary Jacob in yesterday’s Times wrote:”Steidten, who also fell out with Moyes over signings, has been slightly sidelined in the January window, with David Sullivan, the West Ham chairman, taking more control of transfers. The impression has been left at the club that Steidten may be looking for a new opportunity after he was linked with both Liverpool and Arsenal last year. “
More still in The Guardian: It is understood Steidten, who joined in 2023, played a minor part in the negotiations that led to Potter agreeing to replace Lopetegui on a two-and-a-half-year deal. Talks were led by West Ham’s vice-chair, Karren Brady. Sources have indicated West Ham are increasingly unhappy with Steidten over his transfer record, and believe the German could be sidelined if he stays”
The sudden departure of Dan Ashworth from Manchester United just four weeks ago probably fuels more speculation: Ashworth was Potter’s colleague at Brighton. The two worked well together and Potter referred to him as a ‘top operator’ in the Steidten / sporting director role.
The thorny issue at West Ham is that we believe – but don’t know for sure – that Steidten is Shareholder Daniel Kretinsky’s ‘man on the board’, keeping an eye on his investment. If that is truly the case then it might not prove quite so simple to send him on his way after Lopetegui.
Sidelined? Probably. Fired? Probably not just at the moment. But remember, this is West Ham United and anything can happen!
