Karren Brady has increased the heat on West Ham manager Slaven Bilic and his players ahead of their relegation crunch match against Swansea City this afternoon. She basically admitted that Slaven Bilic’s job is hanging by a thread, despite just last week the club releasing on official statement backing the Croatian. Talk about mixed messages being delivered at The London Stadium.

The following are extracts from Brady’s weekly Sun column, which was released just 3 days before what has turned out to be one of West Ham’s biggest games of the season:

“I would be lying if I denied there is growing anxiety over West Ham’s slide — it is two months since we won and haven’t scored a point in five matches.”

“Tonight at the Emirates, we collapse once Arsenal score their first goal. Nobody, including the team and the manager, expected this form this season.”

“While we’ve had a stack of injuries, that should not be much of an excuse with the players we have.  Our staff have spent a hefty chunk of their lives trying to improve the club for fans.

“We fully support Slaven and expect him to turn it around — but at moments like this we have to understand that football, totally, is a results business.”

To be honest, it is a bit of joke that a vice-chairman of a Premier League club has a weekly column in a national newspaper, in which she gives the inside scoop on the club’s dealings and thoughts at board-level. That last quote is essentially saying, ‘look, we like you Slaven, you did well for us last year, but you could be gone any second unless you get us some wins, and quick.’

You have to feel sorry for Bilic really, there’s not another job in world football like it. It was ok last season when the Hammers were flying, but this year has seen dirty laundry aired in public all too often.

The Hammers were defeated by relegation battling Hull last weekend, and another defeat to Swansea would see them a maximum of 3 points above the drop zone, or 2 should Hull take anything from their match away at Man City this afternoon.

They should have enough in the tank to beat the drop, but with each of Swansea, Hull and Palace finding form in recent weeks, and West Ham dropping like a stone, there’s a real sense of anxiety around the Olympic Stadium. Beating Swansea today should put them near enough safe, but without a win in 2 months and 5 losses in their last 5 games, can they do it?