September 27, (THEWILL) — West Ham have dismissed Graham Potter from his position following a disastrous start to the current English Premier League season. The former Chelsea manager’s tenure ended after Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat to Crystal Palace left the Hammers languishing in 19th position with only three points from five league fixtures.
Potter took charge in January on a two-and-a-half-year contract, replacing Julen Lopetegui when West Ham sat 14th in the table. The club finished that campaign in the same position, with Potter managing only five victories from his remaining 18 matches of the season. His overall record included EPL defeats to Chelsea and newly-promoted Sunderland, with the team conceding 13 goals while scoring just five.
The 49-year-old faced mounting pressure from supporters who directed chants of “you don’t know what you’re doing” and “you’re getting sacked in the morning” during the Palace defeat. Fan protests against the club’s ownership have intensified, with a “vote of no confidence” letter from the supporters’ advisory board prompting West Ham to issue reassurances to their fanbase.
Potter was initially expected to remain in charge for the upcoming fixture against Everton, though his position had come under serious threat. Former Nottingham Forest head coach, Nuno Espirito Santo and ex-West Ham manager, Slaven Bilic, have reportedly held discussions with the club’s board regarding the vacant position.
Potter’s departure marks his second major dismissal in recent years, having previously been removed from Chelsea in April 2023 after just 31 games in charge. West Ham conducted significant transfer business over the summer, bringing in wing-backs, El Hadji Malick Diouf, and Kyle Walker-Peters, striker Callum Wilson, and goalkeeper Mads Hermansen, while losing Mohammed Kudus to Tottenham Hotspur.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
