West Ham United legend Tony Cottee has launched a scathing attack on the club's ownership following the dismissal of manager Graham Potter. Potter was sacked on Saturday after just eight months in charge, having won only six of his 25 games. The decision came amid growing fan unrest and public speculation about potential replacements.
Cottee, who scored 146 goals for the Hammers across two spells, took to social media to express his frustration. 'As usual, the fiasco at West Ham is handled with a total lack of class,' he wrote. 'What a shambles. The players will be delighted to have their fourth manager in 16 months! As I've said before, nothing will ever change until this dreadful ownership has left the club!'
Potter's sacking follows a pattern of instability at the London Stadium. His predecessor, Julen Lopetegui, was also dismissed after eight months. The club's owners, chairman David Sullivan and vice-chair Karren Brady, have faced sustained criticism from fans, with thousands protesting before last weekend's 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace.
In response to the protests, West Ham issued a statement acknowledging that 'results and performances over the past two seasons have not met the standards we set for ourselves.' The club promised to 'listen to fan feedback' and focus on building a team capable of competing consistently. However, just days later, Potter was removed from his post.
Nuno Espirito Santo is now expected to take over at the London Stadium. One fan responded to Cottee's post, saying: 'Did you expect anything else from Sullivan? Although Nuno will get my backing and is the right man for the job, we need a CEO to run the club and for Sullivan to keep his nose out and just be an owner.'
