WHEN West Ham’s stars and supporters sit down for their celebration dinner at the O2 this evening, there will be rather less optimism in the air than many expected.
Fans have paid £390 a head for the plush dinner with players, coaches and executives to toast their Europa Conference League triumph.
It has not even been two months since the Hammers lifted the European trophy in Prague but momentum has been lost amid a chaotic summer.
Everyone knew that final would be Declan Rice’s last game for the club ahead of his £105million move to Arsenal.
Co-owner David Sullivan even admitted it the next day and club insiders had been expecting his departure for almost a YEAR.But few seem to have planned for it.