What David Sullivan said about appointing Will Still as West Ham boss after a visit to the London Stadium has new relevance.
West Ham’s search for a new manager to potentially replace David Moyes took another twist yesterday.
Yet another name entered the mix and it was one linked many times before.
There has been no real clarity – or headway it seems – on who might take over from Moyes. If indeed the Scot is definitely going, as looks increasingly like being the case.
One thing many West Ham fans want is a young, innovative manager with an attacking philosophy.
So the sudden availability of Will Still raised eyebrows yesterday.
The unlicensed young English coach has been persistently linked with his boyhood club West Ham.
Because the young manager linked with West Ham has become a free agent after suddenly having his contract terminated.
Sudden Still availability reignites West Ham links
Stade de Reims have officially announced that Still has left the club with immediate effect.
The “mutual” decision came after a meeting with club president Jean-Pierre Caillot and CEO Matthieu Lacour on Thursday morning.
Now available as a free agent, links to West Ham were inevitable.
Still has repeatedly stated he dreams of managing his beloved West Ham.
The 31-year-old was linked as a potential replacement for Moyes last season.
Indeed it was even claimed Still was on a six-man shortlist compiled by the Hammers board should they have parted ways with Moyes last summer.
Still had Reims in the mix for a Champions League spot in Ligue 1 at the start of the campaign.
But the challenge has faded to a more than respectable midtable finish given the club sold several key players and he lost goalscorer Folarin Balogun.
What Sullivan said about appointing Still after visit
Still was spotted at the London Stadium for the win over Nottingham Forest back in November.
That sparked rumours online that he met with West Ham’s majority owner David Sullivan.
With Moyes’ contract up at the end of the season, the suggestion was that the boyhood Hammer was being lined up as his replacement.
Now what Sullivan said about appointing Still as West Ham boss after that visit takes on new relevance.
Sullivan spoke on the record to Claret and Hugh at the time about the rumours he met with Still as a potential candidate to succeed Moyes.
The billionaire admitted he admired the Reims boss but insists it would be ‘too big a risk’. Although he did add the caveat: ‘never say never’.
‘Never say never’
“No I didn’t speak with him,” Sullivan said.
“I admire what he’s done, but too much of a gamble.
“In a few years never say never. I think he came as he’s a genuine supporter.
“I have never spoken to him. These are just mischievous reports that unsettle the club and (are) totally made up.”
Whether Sullivan has changed that stance six months on remains to be seen.
Especially now there would be no compensation to pay.
Still is also famously multilingual, as you can see in the video of the manager in action below.