West Ham United FAB Season Review 2025/26 – Looking Forward
3rd June 2026
The 2025/26 season will be remembered as the most disappointing in the Club's recent history.
Relegation is never the result of a single moment, a single manager or a single decision. It is usually the consequence of issues that develop over a number of years. Many supporters saw warning signs long before this season began and repeatedly raised concerns regarding squad development, lack of long-term planning, poor leadership and the absence of a clear vision supported by a realistic strategy.
Those concerns were not raised with the benefit of hindsight. Before August was out, FAB members had warned the Club of the risks facing the team. Concerns over squad depth, recruitment, leadership and direction were discussed openly, while many external observers viewed West Ham as genuine relegation candidates. We also drew the Club’s attention that Brighton, Bournemouth and Brentford had all overtaken West Ham, something that was laughed at by senior now ex Club executives.
As supporter representatives, FAB members expressed those concerns directly and consistently throughout the season. The Vote of No Confidence issued in the opening weeks reflected not a disagreement over a single decision, but a growing belief that the Club required more effective leadership, greater accountability and a credible long-term plan. The Club issued a 1300 word response talking about Graham Potter being the future and that our Club was in safe hands.
Ultimately, results on and off the pitch are the measure of success. The Club now finds itself relegated from the Premier League despite benefiting from the financial rewards of three successive years of European football, significant transfer expenditure directly from the revenues delivered by the broadcasters, major player sales including Declan Rice and external investment from Mr Křetínský. Supporters are entitled to ask difficult questions about how those advantages failed to translate into sustainable progress and what lessons must be learned.
Recent changes within the Club's executive leadership represent an opportunity for a fresh start.
Under the previous CEO, Baroness Brady, it became increasingly clear that the relationship between the Club and the vast majority of the Club’s supporters had deteriorated significantly. Trust was eroded by a perception that supporter concerns were too often dismissed rather than addressed. A different approach is now not merely desirable, but essential.
The same applies to ownership. David Sullivan's tenure has included promotion after relegation, qualification for European competition and an historic trophy in Prague. However, it has also been characterised by repeated cycles of poor managerial appointments, recruitment upheaval, executive turnover and on-going supporter dissatisfaction. He has presided over five relegations in 30 years of football club ownership. The Club now finds itself relegated again, while reporting the worst financial results in its history. Supporters are entitled to question whether the current model has reached the end of its natural life.
The overwhelming message from large sections of the fanbase this season has been that West Ham United requires renewal, modernisation and a fundamentally different style of leadership. That was audibly clear to anyone present at the last game of the season against Leeds.
Every West Ham supporter should watch ‘The Football Boardroom’ podcast with Henry Winter and Christian Purslow, interviewing Paul Barber, CEO of Brighton. It covers planning, structure, culture and identity all wrapped in a realistic approach to life with a club like Brighton’s capability. A similar plan upgraded by 25% to reflect our potential would be so very welcome.
What matters most now is what happens next.
The appointment of Interim CEO Karim Virani has been welcomed by the FAB. His willingness to engage, listen and act on supporter concerns has already been reflected in a number of positive decisions, including constructive discussions around season ticket pricing and a noticeably more collaborative approach to fan engagement. While it remains early days, there are encouraging signs that a healthier relationship between supporters and the Club can be rebuilt.
Should Daniel Křetínský assume a controlling position at West Ham United, supporters will view that as an opportunity to begin a new chapter for the Club. We have made clear in our correspondence that supporters are ready to work constructively with any ownership group that demonstrates transparency, professionalism, ambition and genuine respect for the fanbase.
West Ham United remains a club with extraordinary potential. Our support, our history and our scale give us every reason to believe we can once again compete at the highest level. But potential alone is not enough. It requires strong governance, clear leadership, effective recruitment, investment in infrastructure and, above all, a coherent long-term strategy that survives beyond individual managers and transfer windows. All of which have been completely lacking.
This Club remains what David Dein, CEO of Arsenal, once described as the biggest threat to the big boys if properly run and the biggest club in the world never to have won its league. It is an opportunity for many reasons, not least us, the supporters, hundreds of thousands proud of their East End heritage. A unique force that wants to be engaged, treated with respect and who in return will give the shirts off their backs.
Words are easy. Delivery is harder.
The coming months will define the future direction of West Ham United. Whether the Club continues with familiar approaches or embraces meaningful change will determine how quickly it returns to where supporters believe it belongs.
The FAB will continue to represent supporters robustly, independently and constructively. We will support positive change, challenge decisions where necessary and continue to advocate for a football club that is ambitious, accountable and worthy of its supporters.
Because while this season has ended in failure and disappointment, supporters will never stop believing that West Ham United can be better than this.
The next chapter must begin with change. Right now we are West Ham Untied. We need to Make West Ham United Again.