West Ham head coach Graham Potter took training as usual on Monday with the club’s board still to decide whether or not to replace the Englishman at the London Stadium.

If the club made a change now, the new head coach’s first two games would be tough-looking away trips at Everton and Arsenal.

Therefore, one consideration is that a change – if required – should be made during the international break following those games.

West Ham are believed to be considering Nuno Espirito Santo and two other unnamed managers as potential replacements for Potter should he leave the club.

Former Hammers manager Slaven Bilic is also available and willing to return – even if it means just signing a short-term contract until the end of the season.

‘The stats make grim reading for Potter’

Analysis by Sky Sports’ Pete Smith:

Potter replaced Julen Lopetegui in January, but West Ham have gone backwards since then.

The former Brighton and Chelsea boss struggled to deliver consistent performances in the second half of last season as West Ham limped to a 14th-placed finish – the spot Lopetegui had left them in. They are now 19th and any hope of a boost from a pre-season with Potter and a squad overhaul this summer has already vanished.

The stats make grim reading for Potter. There have been just six wins in his 23 Premier League games – and only three in the last 16. In fact, Potter now has a worse win percentage than Lopetegui – and only marginally better than Avram Grant’s record low for a West Ham boss in the Premier League.

A winless run stretching to eight games at the London Stadium has increased the ire among the match-going Hammers fans, who have not seen their side be victorious in a game at home since late February, while the style of play under Potter has frustrated them, too.

Monday 29th September 6:30pm


Kick off 8:00pm

Potter’s West Ham is a team which allows the opposition more passes before intervening than any other side in the top flight – and then ranks third bottom for direct attacks up the pitch when they have it. It is certainly not edge-of-your-seat stuff.

The real action happens when West Ham have to defend crosses or corners and their vulnerability in these situations raises questions about training-ground work done by Potter and his coaching staff to prepare for those moments.

When Potter was asked on Saturday if he is still the right man to lead West Ham, his reply was an adamant “of course”. The majority in the stands do not have the same conviction, with Hammers fans joining in with the away supporters chanting ‘sacked in the morning’ at the under-fire Hammers boss on Saturday.

West Ham’s next six fixtures

• Everton (a) Sept 29, Premier League, 8pm – live on Sky Sports
• Arsenal (a) Oct 4, Premier League, 3pm
• Brentford (h) Oct 20, Premier League, 8pm – live on Sky Sports
• Leeds United (a) Oct 24, Premier League, 8pm – live on Sky Sports
• Newcastle United (a) Nov 2, Premier League, 2pm – live on Sky Sports
• Burnley (h) Nov 8, Premier League, 3pm