Another one bites the dust as Moyes exits the Hammers

DAVID Moyes has left West Ham following the end of his short-term contract, the Premier League club announced yesterday.

The 55-year-old former Everton and Manchester United boss arrived at the London Stadium in November, with the sole objective of ensuring the Hammers’ top-flight status, which he achieved.

“I would like to place on record my sincere thanks to David Moyes and his staff for achieving the target of keeping West Ham United in the Premier League,” said joint chairman David Sullivan.

“When David and his team arrived, it was the wish of both parties that the focus be only on the six months until the end of the season, at which point a decision would be made with regards to the future,” Sullivan added.

“Having taken stock of the situation and reflected now the campaign is complete, we feel that it is right to move in a different direction.”

Sullivan said the club, who finished 13th in the Premier League, aim to appoint a “high-calibre” successor within the next 10 days.

The announcement on Moyes came barely 12 hours after David Gold, West Ham’s co-owner, said he hoped Moyes would remain in charge for next season.

Reports this week said West Ham had held “productive” talks with Paulo Fonseca, the manager of Shakhtar Donetsk, while Sullivan remains a long-term admirer of Newcastle’s Rafael Benitez.

Former Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini, currently with Hebei China Fortune, and outgoing Paris StGermain coach Unai Emery have also been linked with the role.

Moyes succeeded Slaven Bilic in November, when West Ham were in the relegation zone, and guided the team to safety.

Moyes managed Everton for 11 years from 2002 before leaving the club to replace Alex Ferguson at United but was dismissed after just 10 months in charge. He also had a disappointing stint in Spain with Real Sociedad.

Here AFP Sports lists the English top-flight managerial changes in 2017-18: Frank de Boer (Crystal Palace) – Sacked on September 11 2017; Craig Shakespeare (Leicester) – Sacked on October 17 2017; Ronald Koeman (Everton) – Sacked on October 23 2017; Slaven Bilic (West Ham) – Sacked on November 6 2017; Tony Pulis (West Bromwich Albion) – Sacked on November 20 2017; Paul Clement (Swansea) – Sacked on December 20 2017; Mark Hughes (Stoke) – Sacked on January 6 2018; Marco Silva (Watford) – Sacked on January 21 2018; Mauricio Pellegrino (Southampton) – Sacked on March 12 2018; Alan Pardew (West Bromwich Albion) – Sacked on April 2 2018; Sam Allardyce (Everton) – Sacked on May 16 2018; David Moyes (West Ham) – Left on May 16 2018 —