West Ham release extraordinary 1,382-word statement with Graham Potter under pressure

West Ham United's hierarchy have admitted "nobody is satisfied" with the club's current trajectory in an extraordinary statement released to their official website. It comes as the pressure continues to mount on Graham Potter, with calls for the Hammers boss to be axed just four games into the new season.

The 2023 UEFA Conference League winners find themselves in the bottom half of the Premier League table, having lost three matches so far this term. It's led to heavy criticism from the West Ham faithful, with the top brass at the London Stadium commenting at length about the club's current plight.

Addressing the concerns of fans, the east London outfit said: "West Ham United recognises the views expressed in recent correspondence from supporter representatives on the Fan Advisory Board and wishes to reassure all supporters that we continue to listen to fan feedback and advise them on the steps we are taking for the future well-being of the football club.

"It is just two years since we lifted the club's first major trophy in 43 years. The UEFA Europa Conference League triumph came in the middle of three successive campaigns in European competition - the first time we had ever achieved that feat. Following that period, significant investment was made into the football operation, both on signing new first-team players and the club's overall scouting network and player recruitment department.

"First, we accept that results and performances on the pitch over the past two seasons have not met the standards we set for ourselves. Nobody at the club is satisfied with that and the Board of Directors have spent a great deal of time looking at the decisions that have been made across the football operation, in order to inform an improved strategy going forward."

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Saturday's loss against Spurs was the fourth time West Ham have shipped three goals or more across all competitions, having done so on three occasions in the Premier League, as well as their defeat against Wolves in the League Cup. They've been marked down as an outsider for relegation this season - a signficant drop off for a team who were European regulars just a few years ago.

The statement continued: "Our focus now is firmly on the future and building a team that can once again compete consistently in domestic competitions and in Europe. We have a strong platform from which to continue that quest, in that we are entering our 14th consecutive season in the Premier League - our longest unbroken top-flight run in the modern era.

"Steps have already been taken to implement a new strategy and approach - particularly in the area of player recruitment. We have appointed Graham Potter as our new Head Coach. His role is to build and develop a first-team squad in line with the club's identity and objectives, with a continued focus on integrating young players from our academy.

"Sporting Director Mark Noble has played a key role in protecting and enhancing that pathway, ensuring that the club's brightest young prospects are all secured on long-term contracts and providing his huge experience and understanding of the club's identity to help nurture the progress of any players arriving to establish themselves in the first-team squad, while Head of Recruitment Kyle Macaulay was brought in to oversee player recruitment and transfers.

"We have also listened to supporters' individual and collective views around their perception of our London Stadium home and the club's facilities and infrastructure. Feedback about improving the matchday atmosphere at the stadium has been recognised, as recently as the FAB meeting in August and the club is already working with supporters to address their feedback. Work has been well underway with stadium operators LS185, supporter groups dedicated to enhancing atmosphere, and fan-led initiatives to improve the matchday feel, including the introduction of fan zones, fan-led displays and Tifos. Ultimately, though, as is the case at every football stadium in the country, we accept that regular winning performances are the best way to improve the atmosphere."

"We continue to do everything we can, working with supporters, to improve the matchday experience on behalf of the 62,500 supporters we welcome to every home fixture. We are proud to have the second-highest average attendance in the Premier League and 50,000 loyal Season Ticket Holders - also the second-highest number in the Premier League. We have invested tens of millions of pounds in our training bases for the men's, women's and Academy squads. This includes millions of pounds spent this summer on continually improving our training facilities at Rush Green, including new pitches, medical facilities, gym and recovery areas, plus a brand-new facility for our U21 Academy development squad.

"This follows the £4million investment to completely renovate Chadwell Heath for the benefit of our Academy and Women's teams, and another £4million investment into our brand-new Community Hub at Beckton - the home of the West Ham United Foundation - which helps thousands of people in the east London and Essex area on a daily basis.

"We believe the biggest strength of the men's first-team training facility at Rush Green is the unique, intimate atmosphere enhanced by the people within it - something that certainly didn't hinder the club when winning a European trophy just two years ago, and something that is again thriving under Graham Potter. Our Head Coach has made clear his philosophy of developing an environment of trust and togetherness, built on the values that underpin the identity of our football club - including the importance of creating a pathway to the first team for our young Academy players. We have invited supporter representatives on the FAB to visit Rush Green in person to see the latest facility developments for themselves, and we will continue to keep all supporters updated as to our latest plans for improvement.

"In terms of our current financial outlook, the club is stable and sustainable. Like all Premier League clubs, we must balance the desire to compete at the highest level with the responsibility to run the club sensibly and prudently. We are operating within the current PSR rules governed by the Premier League, which limit us to maximum losses over a rolling three-year period of £105million (£35million per year), and we try to maintain the balance by remaining both compliant and competitive as we have been throughout the last 13 years in the Premier League.

"That means being cautious at times, but it does not point to a lack of ambition. Over £450million has been spent on new player signings in the last three years, including an average net spend of £100m per season in that period, and we have always managed to stay within the PSR rules. We also continue to make positive progress and enjoy successful growth off the field across all other areas of the organisation. The club has enjoyed sustained high commercial growth that continues to allow us to complete. Every penny generated is re-invested back into the football club.

"We are pleased to inform all supporters that a positive and productive meeting with the FAB recently took place. During the meeting, which took place at London Stadium on Thursday 11 September and was offered to the FAB in light of their recent letter addressed to club shareholders, a range of subjects were discussed and opinions were shared by supporter representatives in an honest and respectful manner. Supporter Representatives shared what they saw as priority areas for the club to focus on and it was agreed these would form the agenda for the next formal FAB meeting. Vice-Chair Baroness Brady, along with Executive Director Tara Warren, as the club's Nominated Board Level Official for direct engagement with the FAB, both attended the meeting in representation of the Board of Directors to hear supporters share views on a range of issues, including leadership and governance, financial strategy and PSR concerns, commercial and stadium strategy, heritage and vision, the strategic vision of the club, fan relations and trust and concerns about the playing squad and on-pitch performance.

"They listened to the detail and views behind the letter and committed to sharing a presentation outlining the Board's strategy and vision for the future at the next scheduled FAB meeting which is due to take place at London Stadium next month which will address the contents of their letter in more detail. The meeting summary will be shared at the same time with our wider fanbase. Supporters have spoken of the need for greater ambition than our position of the past two seasons, and we agree. Regular top-half finishes, strong domestic cup runs, and qualification for European competition remain the goals we are working towards. We know we must do better to deliver those ambitions more consistently.

"We are proud of our history and our loyal supporter base, and we remain committed to building a club that reflects both. We look forward to continuing dialogue with the FAB, among other direct channels of communications with our fanbase, and we encourage all supporters to remain engaged as we move forward together. The club would like to place on record its thanks and appreciation to all of our fans, in the UK and all over the world, for their continued backing of West Ham United and the role that they have played in helping us to become one of the biggest and best-supported football clubs in the world."