West Ham United have been handed a boost in their search for a replacement for David Moyes, who is poised to leave the club this summer.
The board are still mulling over the future of the Scottish manager after a turbulent campaign that could end with us missing out on European football for the first time since 2019/20.
The 5-2 thrashing against Crystal Palace appeared to have sealed his fate. While the most recent 2-2 draw against Liverpool offered little reprieve, it may only prolong the inevitable.
However, with the search for his long-term successor proving difficult due to a shortage of capable alternatives, Moyes is expected to oversee our remaining three games of the season.
The board may be waiting to strike an agreement with a replacement before announcing their decision on Moyes’ future, and another potential candidate has landed on their lap.
Will Still is not the answer
Earlier today, French giants Stade Reims announced (via The Athletic) that they have parted ways with manager Will Still with immediate effect.
The 31-year-old’s heartwarming story with the Ligue 1 side has come to an abrupt end after an awful campaign that has the club sitting 11th in the league rankings.
The Belgian manager rose to prominence after embarking on a 17-match unbeaten streak that saw the club finish 11th last season.
Despite the early promise, there has been no visible improvement from the team, forcing the club to cut him loose as he incurs a £22,000 fine every time he takes charge of a game without a UEFA Pro Licence.
Still is famous for being a West Ham fan, and the board have previously shown an interest in landing his services after he publicly revealed his dream of working in the Premier League.
With the manager now a free agent, the Hammers could be tempted to make their move for the once-promising tactician.
However, we must avoid making a knee-jerk reaction to Still’s availability, not least due to the fine he incurs for each game he manages without a UEFA Pro Licence.
Still’s youthful exuberance may be intriguing, but his underwhelming record this season further proves he’s not the answer to our managerial dilemma.
Once heralded as a managerial prodigy, the Belgian’s stock has crashed considerably after winning just 11 of his 31 league games this season (D7, L13).
He boasts a paltry 1.29 points per match, which isn’t good enough for a club of our stature.
Tim Steidten has been tasked with finding our next leader, and he needs to prioritise experience. We need a capable manager to usher in a new era, not a gamble with uncertain returns.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com