West Ham Appoints Steve Potts as Assistant Manager Amidst Struggles
London (AFP) – In a bid to shake things up following a string of disappointing results, West Ham United has officially named former player and current U21 team assistant manager Steve Potts as the new assistant manager, effective immediately. The appointment comes on the heels of a disheartening 2-0 defeat at home to Brentford, a match that prompted manager Nuno Espirito Santo to concede, “We have a problem.”
The loss to Brentford, marred by fan protests and a lackluster performance, saw goals from Igor Thiago and Mathias Jensen secure Brentford’s first away win of the season. It also marked a historic low for West Ham, as they lost their opening four home matches of a season for the first time. Adding to the gloom, the result coincided with former boss Graham Potter’s appointment as the new manager of Sweden.
“Not good enough. Poor,” Nuno stated bluntly after the game, which left West Ham languishing in 19th place in the Premier League. “Fairly, Brentford won the game, they were the better team.”
Nuno acknowledged the growing concern among the fans, saying, “I think we are all concerned. You can see our own fans are concerned. Concern becomes anxiety, becomes silence. We have a problem.” He emphasized the need for the team to turn things around, adding, “It’s understandable. It’s up to us to change. The fans need to see something that pleases them and they can support us and give us energy.”
The appointment of Steve Potts is seen as a move to inject some much-needed West Ham DNA into the coaching setup. Potts, a true club legend, made over 500 appearances for the Hammers between 1985 and 2002. During his illustrious playing career, he captained the club for three years (1993-1996), won the prestigious Hammer of the Year award twice (1993 and 1995), and was an integral part of two promotion-winning teams that took the club to the top flight.
Since retiring as a player, Potts has dedicated himself to coaching, starting at the West Ham Academy in 2011. He has held various coaching roles, including leading the U18s and managing the U21s. In October 2025, he was appointed as a first-team coach, further solidifying his connection to the club.
Brentford’s dominance was evident throughout the match, with Thiago opening the scoring in the 43rd minute after a defensive error from West Ham. Thiago had another goal disallowed by VAR for offside, and both he and Kevin Schade hit the woodwork before Jensen sealed the victory in stoppage time.
Brentford manager Keith Andrews expressed his satisfaction with his team’s performance, saying, “Very pleased. We approached the game really well. I had a good feeling the last few days, the vibe, the energy around the place. I thought we produced a really good performance.”
The defeat leaves West Ham in a precarious position, and Nuno faces a daunting task in turning their fortunes around. With fan unrest growing and the team struggling on the pitch, the pressure is mounting on the Portuguese manager to find solutions and deliver improved performances. The addition of Steve Potts to the coaching staff is a significant move, and it remains to be seen whether it will provide the spark that West Ham desperately needs.
