West Ham: Tim Steidten ban lets David Moyes focus on rescuing season that risks fizzling out

Since arriving at West Ham last summer, technical director Tim Steidten has been a very visible presence at London Stadium on match days.

Tall, broad shouldered, curtain-haired, you will often see the German strolling down the tunnel or through the mixed zone in a suit, knitted sweater and a pair of those white-soled trainers that everyone in football bar the players themselves seems to wear.

Pre-match, you might even find him on the pitch, side-by-side with David Moyes or sporting director Mark Noble to watch the warm-up, doing kick-ups with the odd stray ball.

But for the final weeks of the season, Steidten has been asked to stay away from Moyes and his first team, both at the club's training ground and on match day itself. He will be at the stadium, but barred, if not formally, then in spirit, from the dressing room.

There were reports of tensions between Moyes and Steidten over transfer targets last summer, but sources close to West Ham insist there has been no major bust-up now.

Rather, that while Steidten, in leading the search for a potential new manager, is doing his job, the current one — still not certain to depart this summer — might be best left alone to do his.

Whatever the rhyme or reason, the message the decision sends is worthwhile, one that has perhaps been a little too quickly lost in the fortnight since defeat at Crystal Palace appeared to leave hopes of another season in Europe in the dirt. Namely, that a summer of uncertainty cannot become the focus of the spring, with three games of the campaign still left to play.

Chelsea's victory over Tottenham last night, as well as a definitive end to any slim chance of an extra Champions League place finding its way to England at season's end, mean West Ham are now rank outsiders for Europe.

Seventh is a low as Conference League qualification may fall: Newcastle, in that position, are four points ahead with a game in hand and, crucially, in much better form; Chelsea are eighth, two points better off and also having played one fewer match.

Still, West Ham, in ninth, have a chance to reignite the race when they travel to Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon, knowing that should they win there and then overcome Luton at home, they may at least take the contest to the final day, when a trip to Manchester City awaits.

If nothing else, Moyes and his players owe it to one another to ensure this probable farewell season does not entirely fizzle out and showed enough spirit and quality in last weekend's draw with Liverpool to suggest they can do just that.

After three seasons of pushing through a Thursday-Sunday schedule, West Ham must be ready to take advantage when the shoe is on the other foot, and Mauricio Pochettino is the man attempting to raise an injury-hit squad off a short run.

In what might prove his final London derby, how Moyes would love to go out with a showpiece win.