David Moyes will know that it is now the right time to depart West Ham after results over the past week, according to Andy Townsend.
The Irons lost 2-0 to Fulham on Sunday (14 April) and head into their Europa League quarter-final second leg with Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 down.
Moyes has been awarded a new contract at London Stadium, but Townsend expects him to leave when his current deal expires this summer.
“The position West Ham are in in the league is a good position – they couldn’t have been an awful lot better off than where they are,” Townsend said on talkSPORT [15 April, 06:52am].
“I do think he’s coming to a point now where David knows he’s better off coming to the end season and letting West Ham go in a different direction.
“David’s got them where they should be and hasn’t underachieved. They had a poor result over the weekend and I do think we’re coming to the point where it’s time for someone else to have a go.”
Who will replace David Moyes at West Ham?
Plenty of names have been mentioned, most recently Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna. The usual names have also been touted, such as Jose Mourinho, but a decision must first be made by Moyes.
And that is why a decision is needed ASAP. West Ham could do with reaching out to possible candidates now, rather than waiting until the summer.
It may well be that Moyes makes a decision one way or another this week should United’s European run come to an end at home to Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen.
Moyes has relied on Europe to maintain some goodwill, but that cache will not last forever. As Townsend says, it does feel like we are heading towards the endgame.
If United do exit the Europa League, it will then be a case of focusing on the Premier League and hopefully doing enough to qualify for Europe again. There would then be no better way for Moyes to bow out.