Hammer drops on struggling Bilic
David Moyes frontrunner to replace Croatian
London - West Ham sacked manager Slaven Bilic yesterday after a poor run of results that have left the club languishing in the Premier League’s relegation zone.
The club announced the departure of the Croatian, appointed in June 2015, following a chastening 4-1 loss to Liverpool at the London Stadium on Saturday that leaves them 18th on the table and facing a fight for survival.
Bilic, who also played for West Ham, is the fourth Premier League managerial casualty of the season following the departures of Crystal Palace boss Frank de Boer, Leicester manager Craig Shakespeare and Everton’s Ronald Koeman.
“West Ham United can confirm that Slaven Bilic has today left his position with the club,” the Hammers said in a statement on their website.
The club hierarchy “believe a change is now necessary in order for the club to move forward positively and in line with their ambition”, the statement added.
West Ham said an announcement on a new manager is due to be made over the coming days, with former Everton and Manchester United boss David Moyes expected to replace Bilic.
Bilic’s assistants Nikola Jurcevic, Edin Terzic, Julian Dicks and Miljenko Rak have also left the club with immediate effect.
Co-chairmen David Gold and David Sullivan said the decision to axe Bilic had been made with “heavy hearts”.
The pair praised Bilic for his role in the move from Upton Park to the former Olympic Stadium, particularly the farewell win over Manchester United in the final home game of the 2015-16 campaign, which helped to earn a seventhplaced finish in his first season. Speaking after the chastening defeat at the hands of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool on Saturday, Bilic admitted he did not know if he would be given time to turn things around.
“Of course I believe in myself,” he said. “I definitely don’t feel a broken man. I’m very strong. I believe in my dedication and my previous work. I know my value.”
West Ham have just two wins from 11 Premier League games, leaving them languishing just above bottom club Crystal Palace and Swansea. -