Tim Steidten addresses David Moyes training ground ban claim as he reflects on West Ham exit | OneFootball

Former technical director left West Ham in January after two-and-half-years at the club

Former West Ham technical director Tim Steidten has denied being banned from the club’s training ground by David Moyes.

“I wasn’t told, ‘You couldn’t come here.’ I rather asked myself the question, ‘What helps this club the most? What if I now work with the coach who may not want to have this cooperation anymore? Who perhaps wants to protect himself first and make decisions himself?’ Then it doesn’t need me.

“No one could have told me except the owner (David Sullivan) that I wasn’t allowed to come (to the training ground).

“When I arrived, Moyes was there but if the structure is not clear, the power relations, the competences, you have a problem. Then the coach’s question was partly justified, why should he let himself be criticised by me when ultimately the owner decides whether I leave or stay?”

Steidten’s recruitment at West Ham came under scrutiny, including big-money deals to sign Luis Guilherme and Niclas Fullkrug.

Niclas Fullkrug has scored only two goals this season

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Guilherme has only played 50 minutes since joining for £25.5million from Brazil last summer and Fullkrug has struggled with injuries since his £27m move from Borussia Dortmund.

Steidten remains convinced Guilherme will be “an incredibly great player” but admits he “made a lot of mistakes” at West Ham.

“I believe it takes eight to 10 transfer windows to change a squad,” said Steidten. “I told the owner that clearly. This has been a long-term project. At least, that was what I gave to the club. My task was to build something in the long term, which also needs young players.

“I have a lot of weaknesses and I think that I made a lot of mistakes during that time. But I would have chosen the same players over and over again. I’m firmly convinced that Luis Guilherme will be an incredibly great player. Bringing in a young player was perhaps the wrong time, in retrospect. But not the wrong player.

“I knew Niclas would fit into the league and into our team. We were also looking for someone who could also lead the dressing room. I’ve known him since I was at Werder Bremen.

“I would do this transfer again because I’m simply convinced of his quality. I’ve learned to never regret a transfer due to an injury because you just can’t influence that and you can’t predict that.”