Chasms to the common-sense option - why Nuno replaced Potter at West Ham

Even erstwhile Graham Potter was appointed West Ham caput coach successful January, you couldn't shingle nan consciousness it was a determination made without complete conviction.

At first, president David Sullivan preferred to connection Potter a short-term woody that would past until nan extremity of that season.

When that was declined, it is understood West Ham explored nan anticipation of a longer woody including a break clause that could person been activated past summer.

Even erstwhile nan move for Potter was astatine an precocious stage, location were dalliances pinch erstwhile AC Milan leader Paulo Fonseca and ex-Paris St-Germain head Christophe Galtier.

Potter was yet appointed arsenic Julen Lopetegui's replacement, but nan determination did not look unequivocal.

Nine months later, those early cracks person deteriorated into irretrievable chasms.

Potter has been sacked, pinch a forgettable grounds of six wins from 25 matches.

To put that successful context, Lopetegui was afforded conscionable 22 games successful charge, but managed much victories - 7 - than his successor.

It's a damning indictment for Potter, whose possession-based attack promised a return to nan West Ham traditions of passing, forward-thinking football.

Instead, fans became accustomed to disappointment.

And past weekend's location conclusion by Crystal Palace - a crippled that took spot amid a backdrop of protagonist protests against nan committee and ownership - was nan last straw.

BBC Sport revealed aft nan crippled that nan nine had started exploring replacements for Potter, pinch Nuno Espirito Santo among nan contenders.

Once that happens, things are often irretrievable for nan man successful position.

And truthful it has turned out, pinch Potter gone and Nuno charged pinch taking nan nine forward.

Appointing Nuno is nan common-sense decision.

West Ham are successful nan relegation area and, though it whitethorn irk fans to publication it, not excessively bully to spell down.

Nuno's pragmatic attack is simply a acold outcry from what Potter was trying to implement, and what Hammers fans would ideally spot from their team.

But needs must for West Ham astatine nan moment.

Nuno has immense acquisition successful ensuring his teams enactment successful nan Premier League - he did it pinch Wolves, past again pinch Nottingham Forest.

Sources adjacent to nan business person told BBC Sport steps towards nan 51-year-old's assignment started earlier nan crippled against Palace.

Primarily connected an exploratory basis, nan Hammers were keen to find whether he would beryllium consenting to return to activity truthful soon aft losing his occupation astatine nan City Ground.

The first consequence was encouraging - he intimated he was unfastened to it.

There were others successful nan frame, too. Slaven Bilic - a erstwhile Hammers subordinate and head - was besides considered.

Bilic would person been a romanticist assignment - and it possibly goes without saying he would person jumped astatine nan opportunity to return to eastbound London.

According to sources adjacent to Bilic, he was already readying his coaching team.

Mark Noble - nan club's sporting head - would person been sounded retired astir taking connected a coaching remit, while erstwhile Hammers defender James Collins was successful statement for a return to nan club.

Intriguingly, it is understood Bilic would person been consenting to return nan occupation connected a woody that ran until nan extremity of nan play - making him an charismatic proposition to Sullivan, who is believed to person preferred a short-term appointment.

Defeat by Palace sharpened nan mind. Potter's reign was efficaciously complete - a matter of erstwhile not if.

The attraction astatine nan commencement of this week centred connected Nuno. Sources indicated Sullivan, astatine slightest astatine that point, maintained his penchant to make an assignment until nan summertime while offering a 'huge bonus' should nan caller man support them successful nan Premier League.

But arsenic 1 well-placed root said to BBC Sport: "Why would Nuno work together to that?"

His banal is high. He transformed Forest from a nine threatened pinch relegation to 1 playing successful Europe this season.

His assemblage of activity astatine nan City Ground is, effectively, why West Ham person appointed him.

Indeed, contempt nan evident easiness of appointing Bilic, talks pinch Nuno person been ongoing since nan commencement of nan week.

BBC Sport sources indicated connected Wednesday that Sullivan was minded to meet Nuno's requests, and it is understood statement connected a three-year woody was yet reached connected Friday evening.

Potter told West Ham's players of his impending departure erstwhile they gathered astatine nan club's Essex training centre connected Saturday morning.

There is understood to person been an constituent of daze from nan squad. Given he had taken Friday's media convention to preview Monday's travel to Everton, location was each anticipation from nan players that Potter would beryllium handed different opportunity to salvage his job.

Potter retained nan support of definite elder players contempt mediocre results.

By nan aforesaid token, location were others not truthful enamoured by nan erstwhile Chelsea caput coach's approach. The truth Potter remained successful situ was a facet for astatine slightest 1 subordinate who sought a move distant from West Ham during nan summertime window.

That isn't unusual; seldom does a manger person cosmopolitan backing from his squad.

As he reflects connected his clip astatine West Ham, Potter whitethorn inquire himself whether he was ever afforded nan conditions to succeed.

He was - to a point. The nine appointed Kyle Macaulay arsenic caput of recruitment soon aft Potter's appointment. Macaulay has a long-standing narration pinch Potter, and is now almost definite to time off successful nan not-too-distant future.

But, ultimately, West Ham is West Ham.

In position of recruitment, nan head will seldom person nan grasp connected transfers he believes he needs.

Sullivan - much often than not - runs that broadside of things, though location has has been a clear move from him and nan club's committee towards a much modern executive exemplary successful caller years. The assignment of Tim Steidten successful 2023 arsenic nan club's first method head appeared to bespeak Sullivan was fresh to relinquish astatine slightest a semblance of his power.

Similarly, aggregate sources person indicated Sullivan's boy Jack - a head astatine nan nine - is becoming progressively cardinal down nan scenes, and is keen to person a greater power moving forward.

In his mid-70s, Sullivan appeared to beryllium winding down.

But it has not gone unnoticed that nan soul restructuring hasn't gone according to plan.

"West Ham were amended disconnected erstwhile Sullivan was successful afloat control," said 1 source.

Large swathes of nan fanbase whitethorn request to disagree pinch that statement, of course.

For them, Sullivan and nan committee are astatine nan bosom of a perceived deficiency of progression.

But it is worthy remembering that successful nan 3 seasons anterior to Steidten's appointment, West Ham vanished sixth, seventh and 14th, arsenic good arsenic winning nan Europa Conference League nether David Moyes successful 2023.

Despite nan existent angst, you'd ideate West Ham supporters agelong for that level of success.

With Steidten agelong gone and Macaulay group to follow, each eyes - not for nan first clip - are connected Sullivan. And Nuno, of course.