Advertisement

David Moyes addresses West Ham criticism and offers hint over future plans

David Moyes addresses West Ham criticism and offers hint over future plans

David Moyes says his West Ham exit has come at the “right time” for all parties and insists he is “really comfortable” with the way his departure has been handled by the club.

On Monday, the Hammers announced that Moyes will leave the London Stadium when his contract expires at the end of the campaign, bringing to an end his four-and-a-half-year reign.

While it had been clear for some time that Moyes was heading for the exit, the Scot had continued to claim that no firm decision would come until talks following the final game of the season.

The early announcement, which came after Sunday’s abysmal 5-0 defeat at Chelsea, coupled with the public manner in which the search for a successor has played out has seen West Ham come in for heavy criticism.

Last month, Sporting boss Ruben Amorim flew to London for talks, while confirmation of Moyes’s exit only came after widespread reports that Julen Lopetegui had agreed a deal to take charge as his successor.

“There's a lot of things in football that can be done a lot better,” said Moyes, ahead of what will be his final home game in charge against Luton on Saturday.

“But look, I'm really comfortable with the situation. I'm comfortable with the board, so at the moment everything's fine. It's football.

Farewell: David Moyes will leave West Ham at the end of the season (Mike Egerton/PA Wire)
Farewell: David Moyes will leave West Ham at the end of the season (Mike Egerton/PA Wire)

“I think it's the right decision for both parties, for myself and the club, and we'll go our separate ways having I think had a really good four-and-a-half years.”

Saturday’s meeting with Luton will give West Ham supporters chance to show their appreciation for Moyes’s work during his second spell at the club, which has included three successive seasons of European football and the end of the club’s 43-year trophy drought courtesy of last year’s Conference League triumph in Prague.

Moyes’s career has now spanned 26 years and more than 1,100 games, but when asked whether he would like to stay in management, he said: “Yes would be the answer to that.

“First and foremost would be a break,” he added. “Last year we won the [Conference League] final on June 7 and we were back on July 1 to go to Australia [on a pre-season tour]. We had three weeks off.

“I strive to work as hard as I can at every club and I've tried to do that at West Ham as well. So, I'm going to have a break.

“But I'm looking forward to working for the BBC and Talksport in the Euros, working for UEFA. I want to keep really involved in football. I really love football.”