Tuesday 7 November 2017 12:48, UK
Tony Cottee admits he is baffled by the fact that West Ham have given new manager David Moyes a short-term contract and says the club needs a major overhaul if they are going to get back on an even keel.
Moyes has taken over from Slaven Bilic on a six-month deal at the London Stadium, a decision which Cottee says sends out the wrong message to the under-performing players and 'frustrated' fans.
He told Premier League Daily on Sky Sports News: "I don't know where to start with the club. The PR is not very good, they need someone on board to help with the PR, everything is so negative. There needs to be clarity over recruitment.
"Who is signing the players? When Slaven signed poor players it was his fault but when it was good players it wasn't to do with him. Can Moyes sign his own players in January or will someone else be doing it?
"Then there's the managerial stability. Slaven was in the last year of his contract. As soon as someone is in the last months of a contract, there is trouble, players switch off and there is uncertainty.
"I don't want to read David has got it to the end of the season. If he is your choice, the man you want, then give him a three-year contract.
"If he's got a contract, the players will settle down and if you are trying to sign a star player for next season, at least he knows who the manager is going to be."
Cottee traces the fans frustration back to the decision to leave the Boleyn Ground in 2016 and believes the current malaise began when they moved into their new home in Stratford.
He added: "I don't think they [the fans] know who they want in charge. They've left their spiritual home and they were going to go this stadium to have a team that will compete to get into Europe. They reluctantly accepted that.
"But now they are so frustrated. The manager has been undermined the players have lost confidence. Whoever they put in charge, the fans would be moaning.
"They have not won anything for 37 years. Stoke have won a trophy, Swansea, Leicester Wigan, why can't West ham win anything? It's got to be done in the right way. Because of that, there is a negative response and everyone is frustrated."
Moyes' first game in charge of West Ham, which will be his 500th Premier League game as manager, will be at Watford, live on Sky Sports on November 19.
