West Ham plot Newcastle United raid in off-pitch shake-up | OneFootball

West Ham are set for further changes behind the scenes following their Premier League relegation

West Ham have undergone major changes behind the scenes following their relegation from the Premier League.

It has been reported that Daniel Kretinsky will become the new majority shareholder after he agreed a deal with Vanessa Gold to buy shares from the Gold family.

This will increase his stake to 43 per cent from 27 as the Hammers prepare for life in the Championship.

The London outfit will be keen to build a team capable of earning automatic promotion back to the top flight at the first attempt.

The Irons finished 18th in the table, just two points adrift of Tottenham Hotspur in 17th, with 39 points proving not enough to remain in the division.

With the transfer window now open, Nuno Espírito Santo will be hoping to bolster his first team squad in time for the new campaign getting underway in August.

West Ham eye Newcastle United appointment

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It has been reported by Chronicle Live that West Ham are interested in the appointment of Steve Nickson to a sporting director role.

The Magpies’ head of recruitment is on the Hammers’ radar to take on the role after Max Hahn departed the London Stadium at the end of the campaign.

Nickson has been in the position with the Premier League side since 2017, but would be handed greater responsibilities with the role at West Ham.

The recruitment chief has earned a lot of credit during his time at St. James’ Park, and his arrival could be the first major decision behind the scenes after Kretinsky’s latest ownership deal.

West Ham are set for a busy summer, with a number of key players like Mateus Fernandes and Crysencio Summerville being linked with a move away from the club following their relegation.

Espírito Santo will also be keen to strengthen the team to bolster their chances of coming straight back up to the Premier League.

Nickson has previously gained experience working under highly-rated sporting directors such as Paul Mitchell and Dan Ashworth.

West Ham will want to move quickly to secure his arrival given the transfer market is already underway, as he will play a key role in determining their recruitment strategy.

Nickson will work closely with Espírito Santo, provided an agreement can be reached to make his move official.

West Ham have yet to confirm any additions this summer, with players like Adama Traore and Lukasz Fabianski departing at the end of their contracts.

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Changes behind the scenes are necessary at West Ham

Relegation came as a consequence of years of mismanagement at West Ham, so it’s not surprising that these changes are being lined up.

It is looking a little more promising at the London Stadium now, although fans will be frustrated that it took dropping down to the Championship to prompt these moves.

Nickson has worked with a lot of impressive figures, and has been part of a strong recruitment setup at Newcastle, so he has potential to do well with West Ham.

It’s likely their business will be slow to start this summer though given he will need some time to get up to speed, meaning there could be a greater emphasis on sales before focusing on incomings.