David Moyes has sent a subtle message to David Sullivan about whether West Ham’s players want him to stay.
West Ham have been linked with no fewer than 14 managers as replacements for David Moyes this week.
The owners are clearly doing their due diligence ahead of a big decision which they – and Moyes – claim will not be made until the season ends.
Journalists, pundits and West Ham fans have all been having their say on Moyes’ future.
But what do the players think?
We may have found out what at least two of them thought when talkSPORT interviewed Alphonse Areola and Kurt Zouma ahead of the 2-2 draw with Liverpool.
But one of the radio station’s presenters, Jim White, claimed the Hammers blocked them from airing what Zouma and Areola said about the Scot and his situation.
Moyes decision looms large amid talks
It was an interesting caveat added to the broadcast by White given he is often accused of cosying up to David Sullivan and the club by West Ham fans.
Chris Sutton has accused majority owner Sullivan of disrespecting Moyes with his behaviour.
That’s after the talks he held with Ruben Amorim and – allegedly – Julen Lopetegui too.
The search for potential replacements went into overdrive after the 5-2 defeat to Palace last weekend.
While a 2-2 draw with Liverpool was by no means a bad result, West Ham’s season now looks over with a European spot probably beyond them.
The manager faced more questions over his future before and after the Liverpool draw.
He hit most with a straight bat. But he did appears to make a statement over his leadership of the team.
Moyes sent a subtle message to Sullivan about whether West Ham’s players want him to stay.
Moyes’ subtle message about whether players want him to stay
Speaking to BBC Sport after the game, Moyes made it clear the players are still very much performing for him.
He added he remains ‘cool’ on his Hammers future and believes the club are still on course for what would be a ‘good league position and points total for West Ham’.
“Taking something (against Liverpool) keeps us in the mix (for Europe),” Moyes said.
“Whether it’s close enough (time will tell). But I think more importantly it keeps West Ham in a good league position, it may well drop by the end of the season…
“I’ve always said that we’d make a decision at the end of the season. And I’m only repeating myself and things that I’ve already said which are that I want things to be right, on both sides and I’m quite cool about the whole thing at the moment.
“The team are showing up (for me), the team are playing. They’re not playing well all the time but the team are doing the job and if we can hang in there it will be a really good season for us.”
Will it sway owners?
The comments come after journalist Graeme Bailey told Hammers News Moyes still has one key backer in the West Ham boardroom.
The trouble is, it’s all well and good the players playing for Moyes in terms of effort.
But there is the feeling a more attack-minded coach would be getting more out of them.
And another issue with Moyes’ message to the owners here is that so many of the current squad will be leaving this summer.
Six players are out of contract and set to leave what is already the joint smallest and second oldest squad in the Premier League.
The likes of Lucas Paqueta, Nayef Aguerd and outcast Maxwel Cornet are also expected to leave.
So it may hold little water with Moyes’ bosses that the players are still going out and putting in a shift for him.