Nuno, the board and games
West Ham's new head coach has to focus on results and hope peace follows
One good thing about the London Stadium is the pitch is so distant it might dissuade any irate owner from marching on to remonstrate with officials, players or coaching staff. Nuno Espirito Santo, West Ham United’s new head coach, has moved from Evangelos Marinakis, who famously strode on to the field at Nottingham Forest, to David Sullivan. West Ham’s chairman is unlikely to stray too far from the safety of the directors’ box, but there are still club tensions faced by Nuno. And he had enough of those at Forest.
After last night’s encouraging point and second-half performance at Everton, Nuno spoke of wanting to make West Ham re-united, bringing fans and team back closer together. But the real divide at West Ham is between board and a fractious fan-base. Travelling supporters again chanted in protest against the board because of ticketing policies, general stewardship of the club and enduring, even escalating frustration about the London Stadium.
Sullivan, his vice-chairman Karren Brady, and the board did a deal to move into the London 2012 athletics arena which was brilliant financially but terrible emotionally. The powerful Olympic lobby refused to countenance their precious stadium, the centre-piece of the successful Games, being torn down and rebuilt as a home fit for football. So a classic English compromise was settled on and West Ham fans pay the price. They are stuck with a soulless bowl of a rented home, a contrast to their beloved Boleyn.
These are turbulent waters that Nuno now dips his toe into, waters difficult to calm such is the depth of loathing many West Ham fans feel for the board. But is it a manager’s job to play diplomat and politician within a club?