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Losing is not the only issue here. West Ham United supporters have had enough examples of that to last a lifetime. It is the manner of our already seemingly destined relegation that is hurting.

From the cusp of something good, to be a shambles of a club in less than three seasons. It is something that haunts us. Only this time, the spectre of relegation seems more painful, long lasting and catastrophic.




As things stand we are going down with barely a whimper, with no raucous home support to cheer us on in the tough times. The fire in the belly we used to have, extinguished by 15 years of deceit, manipulation and chipping away at the very soul of the club.

We have assembled a side with some talented individuals, but not a team capable of stringing more than 20 or 30 minutes of cohesive football together. Combined with the inability to do the basics defensively and a manager who, whilst working through choice for the axis of evil, is seeing his reputations erode by the minute, it is safe to say we are in deep trouble.

It was another turbulent week in the West Ham universe. Another week where, in a club rife with disharmony, no one will be happy with the events.

We saw the board finally recognise the vote of no confidence against it. Obviously ignoring the key components of the discord of the support, with bog-standard waffle. "Investment" blah blah, "growth" blah blah, "European football" blah blah. No mention of the real issues that spawned the fan-led vote.

Behind the blinkered view that they have done no wrong and are incapable of error lies a dismissive air of irritation. Yet the tide is turning. Three thousand of us protesting pre-match last Saturday showed this is not solely disillusionment with current form, but finally fans being unable to take any more of the greed and nonsense.




Perhaps the well-organised and well-disciplined protest was in fact too polite. The team bus was rightfully cheered into the ground. After, it should be noted, David Sullivan and Karren Brady managed to enter the stadium without notice.

The ire and frustration was not allowed to ferment. In no way am I calling for violent protest, but anger was muted and apathy largely kicked in inside the stadium once again.

The general air of discontent is gaining traction, though. Media acknowledgment is increasing. Some pieces recognising the real reasons for our dissatisfaction. Others, offer the "it’s a difficult club to manage" theory. Which it does not take an Only Connect contestant to work out means "would you work for them" and "this set up".

Sullivan is rattled. We have had the usual attempt at deflecting attention by offering hope of change in the dugout and possible investment. Tactics that have become predictable. Then came the real telling point. His latest beau Ampika Pickston, delivering a "walk a million miles in our shoes" rant on X/Twitter.




Clearly, tensions in the boardroom are moving to the boudoir. When those of dubious character and reputation start flinging mud, then it is clear we have them rattled.

On pitch, our woes have us similarly alarmed. We look at the lowest reaches of a plummeting three-season cycle of league inertia. Currently Graham Potter has the worst record of any full time West Ham manager.

For a club who employed just five bosses in its first 89 years, we are on the brink of employing our fourth in less than 18 months. A sign of the times - or the ownership’s ineptness?

When relegated in the past, West Ham have bounced back quickly. This time, in this current football climate, with no real home and the club's finances in a mess, I fear we may not return for a long, long time...

And still they would not utter the words "sorry", "we made mistakes" or "we were wrong", in the boardroom where culpability for failure is always someone else's responsibility.

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