IRON OUT
West Ham CANCEL press conference with Lopetegui with club poised to sack boss as Graham Potter talks continue
The club have already lined up his replacement
WEST HAM have CANCELLED Julen Lopetegui's press conference with the manager set for the sack.
The Hammers struggled under the Spaniard and sit 14th after heavy defeats to Manchester City and Liverpool.
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Lopetegui was expected to speak to the press today ahead of the club's FA Cup clash with Aston Villa on Friday.
It was thought to be going ahead at 1pm at the club's training ground.
However, it has been cancelled with the expectation that he will be relieved of his role.
He took training at the club as usual on Tuesday morning despite knowing that the club were looking for his successor.
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Sky Sports have reported that he has arrived at the club to take training despite the speculation he is set to be sacked.
Former Chelsea and Brighton manager Graham Potter is expected to be named his replacement.
He has not been in management for 20 months following his axing from Chelsea in 2022.
Sky Sports have also claimed that technical director Tim Steidten wanted Potter to replace David Moyes in the summer instead of Lopetegui.
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The German has been staying away from the training ground amid speculation of a rift between himself and Lopetegui.
Lopetegui signed a two-year deal at West Ham in the summer and oversaw a hectic transfer window.
Graham Potter lands new job as West Ham await decision on whether he will replace Julen Lopetegui as manager
The Hammers signed nine players in he transfer window and spent upwards of £130million.
Stars such as Niclas Fullkrug, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Max Kilman arrived but have struggled to impress.
Lopetegui has won six of his 20 Premier League games, drawing five and losing nine.
In this period, West Ham have conceded 39 goals which is the fourth-worst record in the league.
The Mail have claimed that Christophe Galtier and Paulo Fonseca are alternatives for the Hammers should a deal with Potter fall through.
West Ham have worst stadium in Premier League
By Andy Dillon
All that has been achieved under David Moyes has made West Ham forget that they have by far the worst home ground in the entire Prem.
A stadium totally unfit for staging regular football matches.
One that can work on big European nights when the fans have electrified their voices in the nearby Carpenters Arms before kick-off.
But one which drains your soul during routine home games against the likes of Burnley or Everton.
A home ground where giant trampolines separate fans from the action.
With temporary seating and scaffolding trying to bring the players and crowd closer.
When West Ham are playing badly but winning, issues with the rented stadium are pushed aside.
If they are playing badly and losing, the whole festering sore surfaces and the frustration will be aimed once more at chairman David Sullivan and vice-chair Karren Brady.
It wasn’t long ago that fans were invading the pitch, that 8,000 protested against the owners, that Sullivan was hit in the eye by a coin thrown from the crowd. Moyes has been an effective human shield with his consistent, if not entirely pretty, brand of success.
This is what incoming boss Lopetegui has to contend with.
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