Football Discussion | It's time for change at West Ham United

West Ham fan Jamie Pugh explores their recent relegation

He believes this is the consequence of years of mismanagement across almost every level of the club.

Disclaimer | The points raised here are those of the author and not London Super News

Owner David Sullivan has lurched from one reactive decision to the next, with little sign of a coherent vision for where he wants the club to go. For too long, there has been no clear long-term plan under his leadership and certainly no consistent strategy.

Disjointed recruitment, often influenced by favoured agents, and a succession of cut-price managerial appointments will be cited by many as the central reasons behind the club’s second relegation since Sullivan and David Gold took charge in 2010.

The problems run deep

The move from Boleyn Ground to London Stadium, and the manner in which it was pushed through, remains a source of resentment that many supporters will never forgive.

There has also been little meaningful investment in the training ground, leaving West Ham trailing behind several of the Championship clubs they will face next season in terms of facilities.

Some supporters and neutrals will point to the calls for David Moyes to leave in 2024, despite the success he delivered during an impressive four-year spell. Moyes restored stability and identity to West Ham, even as Sullivan appeared intent on reshaping the club into more of a London tourist attraction than a football institution.

But that, ultimately, is part of the wider issue.

Moyes’ departure, regardless of whether fans supported it, exposed the absence of any real direction behind the scenes. There was no roadmap for what followed, no strategy for building on previous progress and no clear ambition for the future. Julen Lopetegui arrived and failed to make an impact. Graham Potter fared little better. Nuno Espirito Santo showed occasional signs of steadying matters, but mistakes continued to undermine any sense of recovery.

And now we find ourselves back in the Championship, burdened by huge debts 

If there was ever a moment for Sullivan to accept that his time is up and step away from the club, it is now. This latest collapse has only reinforced the sense that he is no longer capable of taking West Ham forward.

From European Super Football

West Ham relegated despite final day winhttps://t.co/GALFvGeef2

— SNA (@Super_Affili4te) May 25, 2026

A few weeks ago, partly down to Tottenham's poor form, it looked like we might stay up. However, there is an argument that this was delaying the inevitable. 

My final thought is this: "West Ham deserve better. Their supporters deserve better. For many, enough is finally enough."