It has been a turbulent season for West Ham United and speculation has been rife over Slaven Bilic’s future.
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic
The Hammers had been in freefall and found themselves perilously close to the danger zone after five defeats on the bounce.
But Bilic’s side have gone unbeaten in their last three games to ease relegation fears although the East Londoners still have some work to do to secure safety in what has been a hugely disappointing season compared to the record-breaking campaign the club enjoyed last term.
As a result of West Ham’s poor form of late Bilic’s future has been the subject of intense media speculation with the likes of Jaap Stam, Roberto Mancini, Rafa Benitez, Slavisa Jokanovic and most recently Lazio boss SImone Inzaghi tipped to replace him in various reports.
Many supporters blame co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold for the club’s struggles this season after a woeful season of recruitment and broken promises over investment.
Fans and pundits have also been highly critical of the very public way Sullivan, Gold and Brady talk about the club.
Fans have also been critical of Sullivan’s sons David and Jack for discussing club affairs and transfers on Twitter.
A bizarre columnist dubbed The Insider – which openly discussed transfer targets and fees amongst other things – was pulled from the club’s official website on the orders of Brady earlier this season after she was inundated with complaints from supporters.
West Ham United co-owners David Gold (L), David Sullivan and vice-chairman Karren Brady
Fans also reacted with anger to the revelation from Jack Sullivan that he is to write a twice monthly column for national newspaper The Sun.
Now pundit and Wales legend Dean Saunders has spoken out on BBC’s Final Score to defend Bilic, savaging the owners in the process.
“Yea (they should stick with Bilic), in my opinion he has been treated awfully,” Saunders told Final Score.
“It’s undermined him and some of the bad results he’s got has been down to the way he’s been treated.
“I heard at the start of the season there was a shortlist drawn up for his job while he’s still in the job. If that was me as a manager and I heard they were looking at other managers, I’d just resign… I’m totally undermined.
Dean Saunders
“I’m going into a dressing room trying to manage a group of players, and there’s voices at West Ham coming from all angles.
“One of the owners tweeted after the Leicester game (a 3-2 defeat) saying ‘I want to apologise for that result’ – no, it’s not your place to apologise, it’s the manager’s job to comment on the team, you just run the club.”
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