Insider: Potter faces 'huge problem' at West Ham after Steidten reveal

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Tim Steidten could cause “huge problems” for Graham Potter during his time at West Ham after clashing with two previous managers.

That is according to former Hammers scout Mick Brown, who left alongside David Moyes in June and remains very well-connected at the London Stadium, as he exclusively told Football Insider that there is a constant power struggle between the director and managers.

Potter’s first two games as West Ham manager have seen a defeat to Aston Villa in the FA Cup and a Premier League win at home against Fulham.

Despite a fairly positive start, Brown has warned that cracks could start to show almost immediately as they put plans in place for the remainder of the January transfer window.

Steidten had fallen out with both Moyes and Julen Lopetegui prior to their departures from East London, and has a huge influence on the club’s transfer activity.

Brown previously told Football Insider that Moyes had banished the technical director from the training ground, and shortly before Lopetegui’s dismissal, the Spaniard did the same.

The sporting director’s influence on the board, though, has placed him in a position of power above the managers at the London Stadium, making for a constant power struggle.

Graham Potter faces ‘huge’ West Ham problem already

Brown previously told Football Insider that Steidten was a leading figure calling for Lopetegui to lose his job behind the scenes as pressure grew on his position.

The former scout and assistant manager, who has a wealth of experience working closely with top managers including Moyes, Sir Alex Ferguson and Ron Atkinson, insisted that after two previous managers fell out with the German, the same could happen to Potter.

“I don’t think it’s up to Potter,” he told Football Insider when asked about whether the new manager would be backed in the transfer window.

“Steidten is the one who makes the decisions in the transfer market and the manager is often left out.

“I’m still not convinced Lopetegui was well-backed – the majory of their business in the summer came from Steidten and that’s why many of them have struggled to click.

“But, of course, it’s never him that gets the criticism and has to face the pressure of that.

“It’s a massive, massive problem at West Ham.

“When it was first suggested about him coming in, Moyes let it be known to the owners that he didn’t want him there, but his calls fell on deaf ears with the chairman.

“You’ve had both Moyes and Lopetegui banning the sporting director from the training ground.

“So it’s going to be very difficult for Potter and it’s a shame because that’s something that’s completely out of his control.

“It depends how long it takes the board to see that their two previous managers have had to leave the club after falling out with the sporting director.

“If the same happens with Potter, and sadly I wouldn’t be surprised if it did sooner rather than later, then what do they do?”

In other news, West Ham accelerate Evan Ferguson deal after new twist.

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