West Ham United’s Slaven Bilic will seemingly be fighting for his future next season.
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic
According to The Telegraph, West Ham United won’t be offering a new contract to manager Slaven Bilic – but also don’t want to sack the Croatian.
Bilic, 48, was appointed as West Ham boss upon Sam Allardyce’s departure in 2015, and he guided the club to an impressive seventh-placed finish in the Premier League last season.
The Croatian was expected to build on that this term, but he has endured a difficult campaign, which has included growing pains in the club’s new home of the London Stadium, a host of injuries to key players, and Dimitri Payet’s acrimonious departure to Marseille in January.
Bilic has guided West Ham away from relegation trouble, but the Hammers have now lost their last three games, picking up just two points in the last five as the club’s season beings to peter out.
Now, The Telegraph report that West Ham have completely shelved plans to offer Bilic a new contract at the end of the season, but they have no plans to sack him, as they feel he deserves backing after difficult circumstances this season.
That means that Bilic is heading into next season with just a year left on his contract, and he’ll essentially be fighting for his future next term as he bids to prove that he’s worth a new, extended deal.
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic gestures
The latest reports come just days after The Mirror reported that West Ham have placed Reading manager Jaap Stam at the top of their wish list to replace Bilic having impressed in the Championship this season.
It now seems that Bilic will be given a stay of execution by the West Ham board, but if the Hammers continue their recent poor form, Bilic may find himself under increasing pressure before the start of next term.
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