Graham Potter’s West Ham Break Clause Revealed. West Ham manager Graham Potter has a break clause in his contract, Claret & Hugh can reveal.
Potter joined the club in April on the recommendation of vice-chair Karren Brady. Initially, the club wanted to offer him a short-term deal until the end of the current season — a structure similar to the one given to David Moyes during his first spell at West Ham.
The proposed six-month contract would have included a performance-related bonus and allowed both parties to assess whether to commit to a longer-term arrangement.
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However, Potter insisted he needed greater stability to begin building something at West Ham, and was ultimately handed a 2.5-year deal — a detail widely reported at the time.
But Claret & Hugh have since learned that the contract includes an 18-month break clause, allowing either Potter or the club to end the agreement at the end of next season.
Presumably, the clause was designed as a compromise — offering both the club and manager a chance to reassess the project with a degree of flexibility. In theory, West Ham could terminate the deal earlier, but would still be liable to pay compensation — something unlikely given Julen Lopetegui and his staff are still on the payroll.
Despite the clause, the club remain fully supportive of Potter and intend to back him in the upcoming transfer window. There is a genuine desire within the London Stadium for his appointment to be a success, but club officials are well aware of the urgent need to increase goal output.
While season ticket renewal figures have not yet been released, they are expected to remain low. The club will be under no illusions — entertainment and goals are essential if they are to finish the season on a high and win back fan confidence.
