Stuart Pearce says West Ham return has been blocked, after criticism of board

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Stuart Pearce has told TalkSPORT that he will not be returning to West Ham United following the appointment of David Moyes as manager for a second time – due to previous comments he made about the Hammers board.

Pearce worked alongside Moyes during the Scot’s previous spell as Hammers manager, as the former Everton boss’ assistant. But after being Hammers assistant for seven months, he was hihgly critical of the West Ham board in the national media.

He is quoted by the Daily Mail in June 2018 as claiming that he never met two of West Ham’s three-member ownership. He claimed he did not meet David Sullivan or Karren Brady – instead only meeting with David Gold.

“If I owned a football club or run any sort of organisation, I would like to think that I would make it my business to welcome new faces to the football club. I never met Mr Sullivan or Karren Brady in the seven months I was there,” Pearce said.

Now, with Moyes returning to the post he left in the summer of 2018, Pearce was asked by TalkSPORT host Alan Brazil if he would be reuniting with Moyes as Hammers assistant. But Pearce stated previous comments has seen the board snub him.

“The owners felt I was a little bit criticial of the regime when we left last time and put the block on it and that was that,” Pearce said. “I am delighted for David, I spoke to him before he went in and he was keen for me to join him but it is not to be.

West Ham have taken to life under Moyes for a second time, winning 4-0 against AFC Bournemouth in his first game back to secure three crucial Premier League points. He then masterminded a 2-0 FA Cup win over Gillingham.

The Hammers are next in action on Friday night, as they travel north to take on an impressive Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.