Former West Ham defender Julian Dicks insisted that Hammers fans deserve to be heard before revealing how he felt about the club moving to the London Stadium.
Dicks was a first-team coach under Slaven Bilic until both of them were fired in November after the club found itself in a relegation battle, and shared that he agreed with supporters protesting but not the violence.
“I don’t agree with the fighting, the coin throwing and the violence — but fans must be heard,” said Dicks as quoted by The Sun.
“They are deeply frustrated with the way things are going and want to get their point across.
“At the moment, West Ham fans don’t like what is happening to their club and feel nobody cares what they think, they are making a point.”
Dicks went on to share that he accepted some of the blame for the Hammers’ poor performances this season, before ripping into the board for their decisions regarding the club.
“I take my share of the responsibility for the situation the team is in,” stated the former Hammers coach.
“But I didn’t want to move to the London Stadium all along. Even two years before the move I was having reservations about it.
“Upton Park was a horrible place to go as a visiting player and that gave West Ham an edge at times.
“It wasn’t a fortress by any means but at times it helped us with the intimidating atmosphere.”
The former Hammers player then finally added that the board must start doing better in the transfer market rather than just promising action.
“The board has to back managers in the transfer market, that was the whole point of the move,” shared Dicks.
“It was said it would lead to the signings to challenge for the top six and European football. But talk is cheap.”
OPINION
Dicks certainly knows a thing or two about the Hammers this season, having worked there, and his opinion is one that should be respected. It’s noble that Dicks still takes responsibility for the issues that are occurring on the pitch for the Hammers, but everyone can now see it’s off the field problems that need to be addressed. The scenes during the 3-0 defeat to Burnley were unpleasant to watch, however it’s hard to argue that they weren’t needed. The supporters’ visible protest have put the spotlight well and truly on the Hammers board, which will lead them to make the necessary changes at the club. While the club can’t wind back the clock and return to Upton Park, at least even more efforts can be made to ensure that the London Stadium is suitable.