West Ham manager Slaven Bilic is set to make wholesale changes for Wednesday’s Carabao Cup tie against Tottenham at Wembley as the club prioritise the weekend’s crucial Premier League game against Crystal Palace.
Hammers co-owner David Sullivan discussed his club’s precarious League position with Bilic on Monday — but the manager will remain in charge against Spurs and at Palace three days later.
There was speculation that Sullivan and the West Ham board had arranged to meet following Friday night’s 3-0 home defeat by Brighton, but it is understood no such meeting took place. However, Sullivan, co-chairman David Gold and vice-chairman Karren Brady are sufficiently concerned to be exploring possible replacements for Bilic.
Speculation that Bilic offered his resignation after the Brighton defeat have been discounted by the club, but it is understood the Croatian — who is in the final season of a three-year deal — was dismayed by the performance of his players not only on Friday but also following a similarly dysfunctional performance at Newcastle in August.
Talk of dressing-room disharmony has also been rejected. The players, it is understood, still largely like and respect Bilic, despite the team’s poor form, but the board remain acutely concerned about the lack of direction and improvement displayed by the squad this season.
The board are anxious not to make knee-jerk decisions and remain keen to keep faith with Bilic, until the end of the season, at least. They will know, though, that performances such as the one against Brighton cannot be repeated without them taking action.
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