Wednesday 29 March 2017 13:38, UK
Tony Gale has given his backing to West Ham manager Slaven Bilic and urged the Hammers board to support the Croatian by investing in the summer.
Bilic has less than 15 months remaining on his current contract and his position at London Stadium has come under increased scrutiny following a five-match winless run.
The 3-2 home defeat to Leicester earlier this month prompted co-chairman David Sullivan to make a public apology to the club's supporters, but despite this Sky sources understand Bilic still retains the support of the board.
"I don't think the board helped by apologising for results, you don't need to apologise as Slaven is trying his hardest," Gale told Premier League Daily.
"As far as I am concerned, all the ex-players are concerned and the majority of fans are concerned, everyone is behind him.
"He gets it, he gets the club and they [the owners] need a manager like that at West Ham. I think they've got to get behind him and please be quiet.
"Okay, you own the club, but if you're going to do something, invest in the summer."
West Ham spent more than £40m on nine new additions last summer, breaking their own transfer record to secure the £20m signing of Andre Ayew from Swansea.
However, none of the new arrivals have been able to hold down a regular place in the first-team, leading fans to criticise the board, Bilic and head of recruitment Tony Henry.
"I think the main problem, aside from the Dimitri Payet situation and the stadium, is the buying, it's been useless," Gale said.
"As much as it was good the season before, it's been really poor. They (the owners) were all too willing to take the plaudits about the buying last year.
"Now all of a sudden, all the bad signings are down to Slaven. I don't think so, it's down to the recruitment being really poor."
