Welcome to West Ham, Nuno: the crisis club with no vision, no structure and no patience

The timing of the news left a sour taste.

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Graham Potter has been in trouble for more than a month.

There was no decision after West Ham continued their dreadful start to the season nine days ago, losing 2-1 to Crystal Palace at a deflated London Stadium, and it seemed Potter had been given one last chance to save his job given that he conducted his usual media duties. Instead Nuno Espirito Santo, immediately installed after Potter's unceremonious sacking on Friday, will manage the team against Everton tonight.

There was defiance from the 50-year-old on Friday. Blame the coach all you like, Potter said, but it is worth looking at the wider context. "You have to look at where the club was at," he said. "Because then you can make an assessment of how long it needs to turn results around. What was the environment like? What was the culture like? What was the team like?" Answer: toxic, dysfunctional, slow. West Ham were not in a good place when Potter replaced Julen Lopetegui in January. Tim Steidten, the outgoing technical director, had wasted so much money. Those who worked around Steidten believe not enough is made of how much damage was left by the German's recruitment.

They accept Potter did not do well enough, but one club source says the task of reviving West Ham could not have been harder for the former Chelsea manager.