West Ham’s stance on sacking Graham Potter emerges after disastrous start to the season

West Ham have endured a calamitous start to the new 2025-26 season and their head coach Graham Potter is already under pressure ahead of the international break

Graham Potter is under mounting pressure at West Ham. The Hammers crashed out of the Carabao Cup at Wolves on Tuesday night which compounded a disastrous start to the season.

And now Potter faces a crunch game at Nottingham Forest on Sunday – the last game before the international break – with his future under the spotlight. The West Ham hierarchy have offered a public show of support – with vice-chair Karren Brady even going on national radio to insist they will not panic – and they want to give him every chance to succeed.

West Ham have always taken a view of trying to support managers rather than make a knee jerk reaction but Potter has struggled to gain any sort of momentum since taking charge in January. He has overseen 22 games across all competitions which has resulted in just five wins and they have lost 12 in total.

Significantly, there are five days left in the transfer window with the hope that the squad will be much stronger after Monday’s deadline.

READ MORE: Transfer News LIVE: Man Utd face Lammens dilemma, Isak’s final decision, Arsenal and Chelsea latestREAD MORE: Jarrod Bowen issues statement on confronting angry West Ham fans after Carabao Cup exit

That may offer some salvation for Potter if they take the view that they have to give him the opportunity to work with the players signed in the window. West Ham are closing in on a deal for Monaco midfielder Soungoutou Magassa for around £17m but they want other reinforcements. They have also resisted an Everton attempt to get Tomas Soucek because they want to strengthen. They have also even linked with Raheem Sterling who is available.

But Potter is under no illusion that results must improve as they have conceded 11 goals in their opening three games with the cup exit at Wolves and Premier League defeats to Sunderland and Chelsea.

Potter has acknowledged that he is under pressure at West Ham but it is also a big moment in his career because, after gaining huge plaudits for his work at Ostersunds, Swansea and Brighton, the 50-year-old struggled badly at Chelsea. He was given a five year contract at Stamford Bridge but his reign only lasted seven months and 31 games – and he cannot afford another massive career setback.

The irony is that Potter turned down other opportunities to wait for the right club and now finds himself in a situation where the fans are unhappy but have been more critical about the club’s owners and hierarchy than the manager.

West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen was even ushered away by teammates after going over to travelling fans following the defeat at Wolves. It is believed unhappy fans vented their frustration and Bowen later took to social media to explain his actions and said: “Apologies to the fans for tonight’s reaction.

“I’m someone who is passionate and will fight every time I step on the pitch. But I need to set a better example and you fans know how much I love you and this club! We ride through the bad times together and I’ll see you all Sunday!”

That trip to Forest now seems pivotal in Potter’s future both in terms of result and needing a big performance to show support for the under-pressure manager.

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