A decade on from leaving the iconic Boleyn Ground for the unloved London Stadium, and a mere three years after winning the Europa Conference League, a major reality check now swirls around relegated West Ham United.
The Hammers’ history is, of course, feted with reassuringly grand tales of glamour. One suspects that sense of history is front and centre of the brochure to attract new talent amid a bleak transition to the Championship.
Inevitably, departures of key players and a significant round of recycling is under way. Now, transfer ingenuity is vital for head coach Nuno Espirito Santo and new director of player recruitment Nils Koppen.
From a supporter perspective the hope is that, for prospective targets, West Ham will trade heavily on their name and, arguably, aura, as opposed to the humdrum potential of life in the Championship. They will also contend that the disappointment of relegation is offset slightly by the departures of unpopular directors Karren Brady and David Sullivan, although the latter remains the club’s largest single shareholder. Nevertheless, despite uncertainty over prospects a short-lived residence in the second tier is still expected.
With Koppen arriving at the Hammers earlier this month, it suggests a least a note of forward thinking for a club busy putting out fires. And the job facing the Belgian, who previously worked at Rangers, FC Copenhagen and PSV Eindhoven, includes bringing value in terms of both experienced players and uncut diamonds with healthy sell-on value.
