The key reason Graham Potter was suddenly sacked by West Ham in abrupt style and replaced by Nuno Espirito Santo has been revealed and fans will love it.

They say there is never a dull moment at West Ham – but the last nine months have tested that theory to the limit.

Graham Potter was never the root cause of any of West Ham’s significant problems, all Hammers fans know that.

But what quickly became clear when he took over from Julen Lopetegui is that he probably wouldn’t be the solution to fixing the one thing fans care about most – what they see on the pitch every weekend.

West Ham are a broken team and have been since January 2024.

A pathetic 17 wins from 62 Premier League matches and early exits in both domestic cups in that time is all the evidence needed of that.

West Ham board slammed over handling of Potter sacking

While the problems have not been of Potter’s making in east London, he has not helped himself.

And by Potter’s own admission his West Ham sacking was understandable – even if it did take most by surprise at 10am on Saturday, 48 hours from a big game at Everton.

He failed to inspire or excite fans or – based on their performances week in, week out – players either.

His replacement, Nuno Espirito Santo, has perhaps provided more inspiration in one interview than Potter did in nine months.

That being said, the way the firing of Potter and hiring of Nuno ultimately transpired once again left a bitter aftertaste.

Majority owner David Sullivan and vice-chair Karren Brady have been roundly criticised and accused of a lack of class over the way Potter’s sacking was handled.

It’s not the first time either with Lopetegui and David Moyes’ tenures ending awkwardly too.

The two key reasons for West Ham’s abrupt Potter decision were revealed by Hammers News over the weekend.

That has not stopped pundits, journalists and fans lining up to slam the board for their actions, especially after Potter took the pre-match press conference for Everton.

Fans will love what Nuno told Sullivan in call that changed it all

But as the dust settles, West Ham fans will love what Nuno Espirito Santo told Sullivan in a call that changed everything.

The game-changing phone call that resulted in Potter’s sudden dismissal has been revealed.

And while the optics were clearly not great, what was said will be music to the ears of Hammers supporters.

Potter was expected to be sacked after the defeat to Crystal Palace at home last weekend.

Especially after West Ham fans fully turned on the Englishman during that 2-1 loss.

But when he survived the week, reports claimed Potter had the Everton game and perhaps even the Arsenal clash too.

It was claimed by some sources that was because the board did not want any new manager’s first two games being daunting back-to-back away games at Everton and Arsenal.

Make no mistake those matches are daunting.

West Ham are the worst team in the Premier League at defending full stop, let alone from set-pieces – where they are setting records for all the wrong reasons.

Everton and Arsenal are two of the best exponents of set-plays in the top flight.

Therefore two heavy defeats have been forecast by many.

Now it has emerged West Ham were indeed willing to essentially forfeit those two games so as not to give Nuno a thankless start.

Nuno shows the true meaning of the West Ham way

Sky Sports’ leading reporters Kaveh Solhekol, Rob Dorsett and Chris Reidy have revealed a call between Nuno and Sullivan took place in which the new Hammers boss insisted to the majority owner he wanted to start working immediately, regardless of the fact it was Everton and Arsenal up next.

What we already know is that triggered the call from Spain to inform Potter the next morning of the decision to let him go and Nuno was ready and waiting to take training.

The report claims Nuno is fully aware that his first task is sorting out West Ham’s defending.

Potter made similar pledges but never truly addressed the issue as the Hammers conceded around three goals per game on average under him.

West Ham fans will love that kind of attitude and ballsy approach from Nuno.

That is what they want to see from people representing their badge. In essence that spirit and mentality is the real ‘West Ham way’.

How easy would it have been for Nuno to sit back with his feet up for a few more weeks, avoiding the potential eye of the storm that’s coming and arriving in the two-week international break?

Instead he wants to get straight down to work and to try to get a reaction from the team.

Based on this and what we have heard from the Portuguese so far, if West Ham’s players don’t respond to him then there’s no helping them.