Premier League manager to be sacked as pre-match press conference cancelled
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West Ham have cancelled Wednesday's pre-match press conference with Julen Lopetegui. The Spaniard will be sacked by the Hammers who are set to appoint Graham Potter as their new manager. It's understood that talks are at an advanced stage with former Brighton and Chelsea boss Potter, with a few contract details still to be ironed out.
Lopetegui took training as usual on Tuesday but his spell in charge is set to come to an end less than eight months after he took over from David Moyes. The Hammers called off a press conference at which the current boss was set to preview Friday’s FA Cup third-round tie at Aston Villa.
The Spaniard has paid the price for back-to-back heavy defeats by Liverpool and Manchester City over the Christmas period, with the Hammers a lowly 14th in the Premier League. Lopetegui has been dutifully continuing preparations for the Villa despite knowing the search for his successor was well under way.
Lopetegui has fallen out with technical director Tim Steidten, who wanted to hire Potter in the summer. Steidten has been staying away from the training ground at a time where his own position is under scrutiny. He oversaw a £130million spending spree in the summer, bringing in nine players.
That included Borussia Dortmund striker Niclas Fullkrug, who has struggled and Leeds winger Crysencio Summerville. Wolves captain Max Kilman also joined in a £40million move, but his signature came on the demand of Lopetegui, who had previously worked with him at Molineux.
