Shocking new details have emerged about Graham Potter and his communication with David Sullivan and Karren Brady surrounding his West Ham sacking – and how it nearly came much sooner.
It says a lot about Graham Potter, David Sullivan and Karren Brady that the handling of his sacking as West Ham head coach has made far more headlines than the actual deed itself.
The writing has been on the wall for Potter for some time.
Very few managers would still be in a job at Premier League level with just six wins from 25 games over nine months.
Let alone a club the size of West Ham United.
Handling of Potter sacking more controversial than the deed itself
The world and its wife knows Potter was not helped by what fed-up supporters have labelled a ‘circus’ above him.
Regardless of the issues and chaos in east London, though, the departing Hammers boss should have done better.
Potter acknowledged he had failed himself in a classy farewell to West Ham, which came after his sudden sacking on Saturday – 48 hours out from the clash with Everton.
Now it is the job of new boss Nuno Espirito Santo to try and turn the sinking ship around.
Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images
Sullivan and Brady have been lambasted for a lack of class over the timing of Potter’s axing.
The two reasons for West Ham’s abrupt decision have been revealed by Hammers News.
But the way it ultimately transpired has still left a sour taste in the mouths of many.
Especially as Potter took the pre-match press conference for Everton as normal less than 24 hours before.
West Ham’s board would undoubtedly argue delaying any further would risk forfeiting more points in the fight to stay in the Premier League.
Shocking new Potter details emerge about email and call with Sullivan and Brady
It was claimed Sullivan made the decision to dismiss Potter while on holiday in Spain on Friday.
Now shocking new Potter details have emerged about an email and call with Sullivan and Brady.
It will raise more eyebrows about the way the ownership conducted themselves.
And it appears Potter’s stay of execution was more like four months than the seven days which followed the Palace defeat.
Journalist Alan Nixon was the first to reveal West Ham’s interest in Nuno after the 3-0 defeat to Spurs.
Nixon also revealed on Monday that Nuno replacing Potter was getting closer.
Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images
Now the reporter has lifted the lid on exactly how and when Potter received the news he had been relieved of his duties.
Reporting on his ReluctantNicko Patreon, Nixon says Potter was sacked by a mobile phone call from Hammers vice-chair Brady just as he walked into the club’s Rush Green training ground.
It is claimed Potter was blissfully unaware of activity behind-the-scenes and arrived at work to prepare for the Everton game.
But Potter’s sacking could well have come all the way back in May, it has also emerged.
According to The Athletic’s Hammers reporter Roshane Thomas, an email exchange with Sullivan meant Potter was on the brink of being sacked on May 11th.
Unhappy Sullivan told Potter he could be sacked in May
That day West Ham went to Old Trafford to face Man United off the back of no wins in eight games.
Potter made three big changes to the starting XI that day with Vladimir Coufal and midfielders Guido Rodriguez and James Ward-Prowse brought in to replace Emerson Palmieri, Lucas Paqueta and Niclas Fullkrug.
Thomas says head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay – who is also leaving West Ham – emailed the team sheet to Sullivan.
The Hammers chief was not best pleased with the line-up and responded with a pointed message for Potter that he would be sacked if West Ham failed to win that day.
One of the worst Man United teams in history kept Potter in the job, though, as West Ham claimed a 2-0 victory with goals from Jarrod Bowen and Tomas Soucek.
Further revelations have emerged about Potter’s fall-outs with various West Ham stars.
Whatever your stance on the situation unfolding in east London, one thing is for certain – Nuno has a big job on his hands.