Karren Brady blamed Tim Steidten for how David Moyes left West Ham at the end of the 2023-24 season.

Moyes guided the Hammers away from relegation during his second term at the London Stadium, and they now frequently qualify for Europe.

The Irons won the Conference League title in 2023, just weeks before Steidten was appointed technical director at the East London club.

West Ham are now a Championship team, and that behind-the-scenes appointment can be legitimately attributed to the difference between winning European trophies and losing at home to Charlton Athletic in the second division.

During Steidten’s tenure, it was widely reported that he and Moyes disagreed on transactions, with the German director demanding complete control over the club’s operations.

It eventually led to Moyes’ departure a year after his Conference League victory, and former West Ham vice-chair Brady has revealed specifics of the breakdown.

Karren Brady appears to blame Tim Steidten for West Ham’s failure.

Brady said in a column regarding sporting directors that having someone who isn’t the manager try to rule over moves can be disastrous.

She said in The Sun: “I know how this may end. Tim Steidten joined West Ham in 2023 to improve recruitment, but he battled with David Moyes, who had led the club to three consecutive top-ten finishes and a European trophy.

“Moyes, rightfully, wanted a say in signings; Steidten preferred a director-led approach. By May 2024, things had deteriorated so far that Steidten was advised to avoid first-team areas.Moyes departed that summer. Julen Lopetegui arrived, the club spent significantly, and the dysfunction returned.

Lopetegui was fired in January 2025, and Steidten followed suit.Two managers, two breakdowns, and one sporting director.At some point, you have to stop blaming the man in the dugout and question the man in charge of recruitment. The irony is that sporting directors are intended to maintain continuity. “West Ham failed to achieve it.”

Daniel Kretinsky is now the club’s largest shareholder, while former Newcastle chief Amanda Staveley is rumoured to be leading a bid to buy the Hammers.

Mark Noble was hired as West Ham’s sporting director in January 2023 and has remained in the position ever since.

He’s practically perfect in the eyes of Hammers fans, although his appointment came before Steidten’s arrival.

Kyle Macauley was hired as West Ham’s head of recruitment in January 2025, the same month Graham Potter joined, however he resigned in October 2025.

Brady cited another example of broken continuity in her column.

Nils Koppen was hired as director of player recruiting in July and has so far worked effectively with Nuno Espirito Santo.

Earlier this season, Koppen stated that he believes “the collaboration with Nuno has been very good,” but it is clearly his perspective and not that of West Ham management.

However, retaining Jarrod Bowen – if Koppen had any involvement – was significant, and West Ham did receive some large sums in the summer.

In terms of incomings, the jury is still out on some of them, but there are some hopeful signals about Manor Solomon and Edvin Austbo’s performance.