West Ham United have dismissed head coach Graham Potter after a disastrous start to the Premier League season left the club sitting 19th with only three points from five games.
The decision comes less than nine months after Potter replaced Julen Lopetegui in January, signing a two-and-a-half-year deal. He managed just six wins from 25 matches, and Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at home to Crystal Palace proved the final straw.
The Hammers released a statement confirming their belief that “a change is necessary” to arrest the slide. The board cited poor results dating back to last season, where Potter secured only five wins in 18 league games, leaving West Ham marooned in 14th by May.
Fans have grown increasingly restless, staging protests against ownership and voicing discontent at the touchline. The atmosphere soured further against Palace, when chants of “you don’t know what you’re doing” echoed around the London Stadium. Potter admitted afterward, “We want to do better than we are and at the moment we’re not.”
The club’s struggles extend beyond the dugout. Over the summer, West Ham lost Mohammed Kudus to Tottenham, while veterans Michail Antonio, Danny Ings, and Aaron Cresswell also departed. Despite signing Callum Wilson and Kyle Walker-Peters, the side has looked fragile, conceding 13 goals while scoring only five.
The uncertainty has fueled speculation over Potter’s replacement. Former Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo and ex-Hammers manager Slaven Bilic are understood to have spoken with the board. Whoever takes charge faces a daunting task of steadying a fractured squad and reigniting belief among fans.
Potter’s departure marks his second failed Premier League spell in quick succession after his short-lived stint at Chelsea. For West Ham, the hope now is that swift action can prevent a relegation battle from becoming reality.
