West Ham United were linked with a move for Eli Junior Kroupi throughout the closing stages of the winter transfer window.

However, a late Deadline Day deal saw the Frenchman move to Bournemouth, and chiefs at the London Stadium will surely be fuming.

With Graham Potter now bringing Kyle Macaulay to East London, having worked together closely at Chelsea, it was just a matter of time before Steidten’s exit was announced.

Speaking live via talkSPORT [4 February, 10:49am], White said: “Why wait this long? Surely before appointing Potter, they should’ve said to Steidten ‘Thanks, off you go’?”

Why did West Ham United wait so long to sack Tim Steidten?

He was asked to stay away from the training ground during Julen Lopetegui’s reign [XX], and the same happened under David Moyes as the Scot was forced out of East London.

There was clearly a problem with the technical director, with supporters at the London Stadium becoming more and more frustrated by his presence, but David Sullivan continued to cling on. Why?

Sullivan is rarely one to make cut-throat decisions, proven when wanting to give Lopetegui more chances despite the Hammers drifting closer and closer to the relegation zone.

While Potter has not yet been able to overturn the disappointing results, the playing style has vastly improved and some supporters will feel unlucky not to have grabbed more points.

Steidten should have been sacked quite a while ago, rather than waiting for him to leave on his own accord, destroying everything in his path in East London as he undermined the last two managers.

White is absolutely spot on with his questioning but the comments are bound to be swept under the rug now that Steidten’s exit has been confirmed.

In other West Ham news, Ricardo Pepi has agreed a contract after a £21million bid from the Hammers.