West Ham sack Slaven Bilic

Slaven Bilic and West Ham have parted company, with reports circulating that David Moyes is set to be appointed as his successor later on Monday.

The club dropped into the Premier League’s bottom three following a 4-1 defeat against Liverpool on Saturday and Everton’s victory against Watford and it was widely speculated following that game that Bilic was expected to be fired.

West Ham have only won two of their 11 Premier League games so far this season, despite making significant additions over the summer including Joe Hart, Pablo Zabaleta, Marko Arnautovic and Javier Hernandez.

In a statement on their official website, they said: “West Ham United can confirm that Slaven Bilic has today left his position with the club.

“The chairmen and board of West Ham United would like to place on record their thanks and gratitude to Slaven and his team for their services over the past two-and-a-half years, but believe a change is now necessary in order for the club to move forward positively and in line with their ambition.

“West Ham United can confirm that Bilic’s coaching assistants Nikola Jurcevic, Edin Terzic, Julian Dicks and Miljenko Rak have also left the club with immediate effect.

“The club’s search for a new manager to take West Ham United forward is underway and an announcement regarding Bilic’s successor is expected to be made over the coming days.”

Former Everton, Manchester United and Sunderland manager Moyes has been identified as his replacement.

Reports on Monday state that Moyes, who has been doing punditry work in Qatar, agreed the deal on Sunday night and was due to fly to London later in the day to finalise terms.

Asked on Sunday if he would be keen on the role, he told beIN Sports: “I’m interested, but until that vacancy comes available, and at the moment it’s not available… I know what Slaven is going through, and he must be hating it and wanting to get a result as quickly as possible.

“If it comes available yes, and at the moment it’s not available. Unfortunately for me to get back in [to club management] means a manager would have to lose his job, and I wouldn’t wish that on anybody.”

Bilic, who was appointed in June 2015, led the club to a seventh place finish in the Premier League during his first season in charge and 11th last season.