Steidten 'ban' gives Moyes space to 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.

- Malik Ouzia

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.