West Ham United face a crucial two week spell ahead of them in the Premier League.
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic
The Hammers board released a statement today, regarding the future of Slaven Bilic, highlighting their steadfast support of the Croatian, as quoted by the club’s official website:
“To end speculation once and for all, the West Ham United Board feel it necessary to announce that we have 100 per cent faith in Slaven Bilic’s ability to lead West Ham United. Despite press speculation to the contrary, the manager’s position is not under threat. The Board know that Slaven and his coaching staff have the full backing of the playing squad and the overwhelming majority of supporters to lead West Ham United out of this difficult spell. The Board now urge all supporters to unite behind the manager, his staff and the squad as we go into some important games. We all have complete confidence in their ability to end a testing run of results and finish the season on a high.”
West Ham United owners David Gold and David Sullivan
West Ham are in the midst of a woeful run of form in the Premier League that has seen them take just two points from their last six outings, and they now sit worryingly just six points clear of 18th placed Hull City.
The question is, was there any substance in the Hammers’ board’s statement?
As is common knowledge within the game, votes of confidence from club owners and boards in the past have turned out to be anything but that.
They only really serve to put more pressure on managers who are under fire.
And the East Londoners have previous in this regard. They backed Avram Grant, in a similar manner to which they have done now with Bilic, only to sack the Israeli later on that season (the Guardian).
And this could be exactly the case with Slaven Bilic’s situation at West Ham, and the statement released by the board via WHUFC.com.
It is clear that West Ham co-owner David Sullivan is not happy with the way things have panned out this season, with many of Bilic’s summer signings turning out to be complete and utter flops.
And it will be interesting to see if the Hammers hierarchy remain in the Croatians corner over the next few weeks if results against Arsenal, Swansea City and Sunderland do not go their way.
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic
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