Graham Potter’s West Ham future under serious scrutiny after Crystal Palace Defeat | OneFootball

Graham Potter’s tenure at West Ham United has reached a critical juncture, with senior figures at the club actively weighing alternatives after a fourth defeat in five Premier League matches, following Saturday’s 2-1 loss at home to Crystal Palace.

Multiple sources have told BBC Sport that West Ham had already begun the process of identifying potential successors prior to the weekend’s defeat, a search that has only intensified following this loss. Candidates under consideration include recently dismissed Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espírito Santo, former Bournemouth and Wolves boss Gary O’Neil, and ex-Hammers coach Slaven Bilić, whose possible short-term return has been internally discussed.

Potter, appointed in January on a two-and-a-half-year contract, has managed just six wins in 25 games. His predecessor, Julen Lopetegui, lasted 22 matches and left with a marginally better record. Crucially, West Ham have not won in front of their own fans since February and have already suffered home losses this season to Chelsea, Tottenham, and now Palace.

Speaking after the defeat, Potter struck a defiant but realistic tone. “It’s tough, the results are not what we want at all…I feel for the players, supporters, and everybody connected with the club. We have to stick together and find a solution.”

Fan unrest compounds the pressure. Before Saturday’s game, thousands staged protests demanding the resignation of chairman David Sullivan and vice-chair Karren Brady, reflecting a growing disconnect between the board and the fanbase.

Former England striker Wayne Rooney said that the next 48 hours could be decisive. “It feels like the fans want him out. It’ll be interesting to see whether the board back him or make a change,” he said.

With Everton and Arsenal looming before the international break, West Ham’s hierarchy face a pivotal decision: persist with Potter’s long-term project or make an early, destabilising intervention. Either way, time is running short for the former Chelsea and Brighton coach to prove he can withstand the storm at the London Stadium.

GFN | Finn Entwistle