West Ham are expected to make a firm decision on the future of Julen Lopetegui “soon”, according to the club’s former scout.
Mick Brown, who worked as a senior scout at the London Stadium until June when he departed alongside David Moyes, exclusively told Football Insider that it is a “dangerous” time of year for managers as clubs begin to feel the pressure.
This comes following a heavy 4-1 defeat to Tottenham away from home, compounding the Hammers’ dismal start to the Premier League season.
After eight games, Lopetegui’s side have won just twice, with two draws and four defeats which have seen them drop to 15th in the league table.
West Ham have also kept just one clean sheet in that time, away from home against Crystal Palace, while they conceded four to Tottenham and three against both Chelsea and Man City.
As a result, pressure on the manager’s position has continued to grow both amongst the fans and in the boardroom, with the club’s top brass keen to see a return on their investment.
Brown has insisted that, one way or another, the club’s top brass must make their decision after backing Lopetegui heavily during the transfer window.
The former scout, who remains very well-connected at West Ham and throughout the game, insisted that growing pressure on the manager from outside of the club could force the board to make a decision.
“The board will have to make a decision,” he told Football Insider.
“It’s the most dangerous time in the year, October and November, when the international breaks come along and clubs jump into making changes.
“The board members and directors start to panic and start to feel the pressure.
“I’d say ‘watch this space’ in terms of whether they sack him, because they’ll need to make a decision soon whatever they do.
“There have already been issues this season which will be a concern for the owners because of how heavily they backed him in the summer.
“They’ll be keen not to rush the decision, but the pressure is growing and they will have to ma
ke the call.”
