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Julen Lopetegui has the “full support” of the West Ham board despite his poor start to the season, The Athletic reports.

According to Roshane Thomas for the outlet’s website on 5 October the Hammers hierarchy believe the Spaniard has “abundant qualities” to improve the club long-term.

But if bad results continue it remains to be seen how chairman David Sullivan will react, after just one win from six in the Premier League so far.

The Irons face Ipswich Town at the London Stadium on 5 October, needing a win to go into the international break.

David Sullivan continues to support new West Ham boss

After finally making the decision to move on from David Moyes and then investing well over £100million on new players in the transfer window it probably still is premature to pull the plug on the new project.

But those facts also highlight why the pressure is on, unless the board are content to give an entire season to growing pains and hope for the best this term.

Giving Lopetegui a two-year contract with an option for a third is sensible on one hand but it also doesn’t scream commitment as it is clearly set up not to cost the club heavily if things don’t work out.

A bad result ahead of an international break always increases the focus on a struggling manager so Lopetegui could lift a lot of pressure off his shoulders with a solid win against promoted Ipswich.

West Ham United technical director Tim Steidten signed numerous new players. (Credit: Imago)

Tim Steidten is potentially open to criticism as well if his signings don’t work out but the German is likely far more secure with Sullivan than the manager is.

Neither the chairman nor vice-chair Karren Brady were looking satisfied with the ex-Wolves boss’ performance at the 3-0 defeat to Chelsea and former Hammers keeper Rob Green recognised what their faces represented from his own time with the club .

Stan Collymore has suggested Lopetegui has up until Christmas to build up a better body of work or he will be gone, but there will surely need to be obvious improvements before then to lift the nerves around the club.

In other West Ham news, Lopetegui has committed a “sackable offence” already at the London Stadium.

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