West Ham Independent Supporters’ Association’s vice chairman Paul Turner revealed that the club’s dealings in the transfer market were one of the reasons for the recent protests.
Several Hammers supporters during the 3-0 defeat to Burnley on Saturday visibly demonstrated their unhappiness over the running of their club and the game was interrupted by several pitch invaders.
Turner in an interview with Sky Sports shared that while his group do not condone any criminal activity including pitch invasions, the scenes on Saturday showed how supporters did not feel listened to.
“Unfortunately we seem to be in a situation now where a number of people feel their opinion hasn’t been listened to or their opinions haven’t been heard by the current ownership,” stated Turner.
The vice chairman on the fan group went on to reveal that fans are infuriated with the club’s lack of “real investment” in the playing squad and that the signing of Patrice Evra showed how the club failed in January.
“On the pitch the options for the manager where there seems to be a lack of quality at times in the squad, where it gets to the point you have to bring in Patrice Evra in February just as soon as the January transfer window closes because you can’t invest and recruit properly,” revealed Turner.
“Most transfers you can agree a fee but you have to agree a lot more behind it to get it over the line. We as a football club, the way we’re being run at the moment, it doesn’t seem like they can recruit appropriately and properly to give the manager the best options on the pitch on a Saturday.”
The Hammers currently sit three points clear of the relegation zone, ahead of playing Southampton in their next league game.
OPINION
Evra did appear to be a signing made out of desperation in February, as the aging defender’s best days are clearly behind him. The 36-year-old hasn’t impressed in the two appearances he has made in the Premier League this season, and looks incapable of helping the Hammers see off the threat of relegation. While Hammers fans are clearly upset over more than just the Hammers actions in the transfer market, it’s hard to deny that it isn’t a point of contention. Moyes needed the board to sign him several players in order to strengthen his depleted side, but they failed to hand him what he needed.