As West Ham fans continued to protest about their ownership in their 1-0 FA Cup win at Burton Albion on Saturday, Sullivan’s partner Pickston posted to X, wishing everyone a happy Valentine’s Day.

Ignoring the sign in the away end from a Hammers fan wishing his partner at home a happy Valentine’s, it was a day that West Ham supporters further looked to make their feelings known against those in charge.

With a season ticket holder recently banned from the London Stadium for holding up a banner saying “Time 2 Sell – Name Your Price”, Hammers fans reciprocated the same action on their travels to Staffordshire.

Performances have improved on the pitch across the last month, with Nuno Espirito Santo’s side just three points away from safety. But off it, the club is an absolute mess.

West Ham fans must have the right to protest

The recent backlash against banners has been a huge shame for West Ham, and football as a whole.

As the game continues to be taken away from the supporters, the custodians of a huge football club in West Ham have essentially proven that they are immune to criticism.

Henry Winter revealed this morning that Hammers vice-chair Karren Brady will take part in a meeting with the Fan Advisory Board later this month, discussing the overall direction of the club. But with the lack of accountability and inability to take criticism as of late, the whole situation is beginning to look more like a PR ploy than a genuine path for progress.

On the pitch, West Ham have struggled this term, but supporters will acknowledge that this is football. But off it, the club is a mess.

West Ham are in heaps of trouble regardless of Premier League future

The Hammers could well go and achieve safety this term, this is completely feesible given their recent run in the Premier League, where they have lost just once in their last five.

But away from the on-pitch action, the club are sleepwalking into even more of a mess.

The higher-ups at the club have been ignoring fan criticism for a decade now, with issues going all the way back to West Ham’s 2016 move to the London Stadium.

For years, the club have spent money, but constant changes of recruitment direction both in the dugout and on the pitch have formed an amalgamation of multiple managers’ ideas in one squad.

And should they achieve safety, the question as to whether Nuno would be backed remains – something far from ideal given his credentials with a capable squad, and his departure from Nottingham Forest last year stemming from recruitment issues.

If the Hammers do stay up, there needs to be serious changes behind the scenes, because as of now, the place is a circus.

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