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West Ham United manager David Moyes held talks with owner David Sullivan to discuss topics such as his immediate future following victory in the UEFA Europa Conference League Final against Fiorentina last week, and the resolution of those discussions have been revealed.
According to BBC Sport, Moyes will indeed stay on as West Ham United manager. Over the course of the season, the Scot had been linked with the sack on more than one occasion, particularly when the Hammers were struggling for form and were towards the bottom of the table.
However, on the back of winning the UEFA Europa Conference League, Sullivan has no interest in parting ways with their European-winning coach. The ex-Manchester United boss only has a year remaining on his contract, and had been rumoured with the vacant Celtic managerial position following the departure of Ange Postecoglou to Tottenham Hotspur.
Moyes will therefore guide West Ham into their third consecutive appearance in European football. Beating Fiorentina last Wednesday has granted them with an immediate spot in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League, which was won at the end of last month by Spanish side Sevilla.
One such issue for Moyes to focus on is the likelihood of having to replace their almost irreplaceable captain Declan Rice. He continues to be very strongly linked with a summer move away from the London Stadium. Although he still has two years left on his contract, many feel he now needs to make the next step in his career and regularly compete for trophies, and play in the UEFA Champions League.
Sullivan confirmed on talkSPORT recently that the England international had played his final game for the club, so this indeed will be one of the immediate issues Moyes will deal with in his in-tray. Moyes no doubt will have expected this day to come at some point, particularly given Rice’s improvement year-on-year for both club and country.
After beating Fiorentina in Prague, Moyes said that winning the UEFA Europa Conference League was his best achievement in management. The 60-year-old, who has on three occasions won the LMA Manager of the Year Award, adding this latest trophy to his managerial haul, which includes the Second Division title with Preston North End in 2000.
It was important for Moyes’ future to be resolved quickly after what has been a successful, but ultimately quite stressful, season for the experienced manager. He looked to be linked with the sack on a few occasions, especially when form had dipped.
For sure, he’ll not want his West Ham side to again be involved in a relegation battle. Also, whilst they are well versed in combining Premier League and European duties, playing in the UEFA Europa League next season against clubs with improved quality presents a challenge.
West Ham had gone 43 years without winning a trophy before doing so in Prague, so surely that will count for something should Moyes indeed experience an indifferent period of results next season. 2023/24 Premier League fixtures are released on Thursday at 9am.
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