West Ham’s decision to allow more time to Julen Lopetegui is nothing short of abysmal leadership from the club.

The appointment of Lopetegui was supposed to herald a new era in east London, one with a cohesive strategy under a Head Coach & Director of Football model – as the club play catch up on how football clubs widely operate these days.

It was clear to most though that Lopetegui was an appointment centred around expense as opposed to ambition, with David Sullivan the driving force to bring in a man clearly not the right fit for West Ham.

Sullivan chose to ignore those who are paid to determine the right people for the club, to build a team on and off the pitch that can propel West Ham to a club which can compete at the highest level we are capable.

The decision making from the top at the club is not only hampering our progression, it’s dragging the club further backwards and so far behind those who have a clear identity and plan.

The appointment of Julen Lopetegui was wrong from the start, one that never felt right and had the hallmarks of one that Sullivan pushed for to protect the wallet rather than the club.

However, it’s the events in the last 48 hours which have shown a total lack of ability when it comes to running a football club properly, as the circus mindset firmly in full gear as we once again take the reactive route rather than be proactive.

It’s evident that the club now realise what the fans saw many weeks ago, that Lopetegui is an appalling appointment and one that is taking West Ham towards a full scale battle to remain in the Premier League, rather than one fighting for Europe.

Despite the late reaction, it was felt at last that the club were to end this nightmare and be decisive in removing him from his position and being in a new Head Coach, to salvage what is left of this dire season.

This approach wasn’t subtle either, it was very public. With a clear intention to speak to other managers to replace Lopetegui, with his sacking ahead of the weekend now a formality as we draw a line under the nightmare that his appointment has been.

But no, not on Sullivan’s watch.

The incompetent owner decided to offer only short term terms to Graham Potter – who was deemed the chosen candidate to replace Lopetegui, with nothing in place to extend beyond May.

A ridiculous proposal which understandably was dismissed by the former Brighton boss, and no doubt burn another bridge.

Sullivan and the rest of the hierarchy then decide incredibly to retain Lopetegui in the meantime. A move which serves nobody and only damages our club further as this shameful and shambolic situation continues.

The anger now from the fan base is fierce and quite rightly too, as we are once again reminded of the people in charge and how utterly inept they are.

From the Head Coach, to the stadium, the concessions, the training ground, striker situation, naming rights, pricing, the list goes on and on.

It’s a circus and one us fans have had to endure under Sullivan’s reign for almost 15 years now, with sadly no end in sight.

How much longer until we are finally rid of these cronies at the top and have an ownership who can care and love this club as much as it deserves to be?

I forever long for that day to arrive, but fortunes continue to hide.