Dignified as ever, Slaven Bilic took Saturday’s shambolic performance and defeat at St James’ Park on the chin and promised he will be doing everything in his armoury to get West Ham’s season back on track. I fear that is now the Croatian manager’s lot at the Hammers – with reports overnight that his job in now under review.

Personally I will be gutted to see Bilic leave, as his fate has merely been the victim of circumstances beyond his control. The last twelve months we have seen him dealt a terrible hand by the owners who were shambolic in the transfer market last summer and failed to give Slaven the necessary tools to build on what was excellent first season at Upton Park.

The move to the new stadium was always going to be difficult; however, when you couple this up with the Dimi Payet saga – you would be harsh to suggest that a 11th place Premier League finish wasn’t a satisfactory finish from what was a turbulent campaign.

Unfortunately in football, such variables and factors are ever considered when it comes to assessing performance. You are only as good as your last match; however, three straight defeats has seen the media start to turn on Bilic and supporters alike are weighing in with their own negativity that is just adding undue pressure to the situation.

People are quick to forget that we have several key players out injured, the likes of Lanzini and Antonio not fully fit and that we haven’t had the benefit of home comforts – due to the sheer nonsense that we are always having to play 2nd fiddle to Athletics. It just feels like everything is conspiring against Bilic this season and I do wonder if the players are hiding behind him now.

What is so frustrating about these situations is that if Bilic is replaced then there will be an immediate upturn in fortunes. A new manager will have the home comforts after the international break, arguably a fully fit squad at that point and the momentum of a new man at the helm always seems to have a positive affect.

Slaven doesn’t have the benefit of all this and its such a shame that I fear he won’t be given the opportunity to put things right. The vultures are circling and ultimately we should embrace ourselves for another period of change at the club for good or bad.