David Moyes believes there needs to be a culture change at West Ham following yet another turbulent week for the relegation-threatened club.
The Hammers confirmed on Friday that Andy Carroll was fined following what Moyes described as the forward’s “unacceptable” and “inexcusable” behaviour against Manchester City.
Carroll, an unused substitute in West Ham’s 4-1 home defeat against the Premier League champions last Sunday, left the bench early, and was then sent home from training by Moyes 24 hours later after he refused to apologise.
Moyes said he was “disappointed” with Carroll, who will be in West Ham’s squad for Saturday’s trip to Leicester, but also took aim at the club for leaking details of his training-ground summit with the former England international on Monday.
“I was really disappointed in Andy,” Moyes wrote in his Evening Standard column. “I don’t believe there was any excuse for what he did. He’s been fined but he has apologised, both to me and the players, and I think he understands it was wrong.
“The following day we had a discussion in the office at (West Ham’s training ground) Rush Green. I told him it was unacceptable and sent him away.
“Within an hour, it seemed, it was out there for public consumption, which is also disappointing. Things go on all the time at clubs and there needs to be some privacy.”
Asked to clarify his final remarks, Moyes, whose future at the club beyond this season is unclear, said: “The leaks make it very difficult.
“There are so many things at football clubs that can happen daily, whether it be transfers, dealing with players or team selections, and you hope you get a bit of trust.
“I’ve had to come to terms with the culture of West Ham and the culture of West Ham seems that leaks, and stories is part of it.
“Can I change it? I’m sure every manager who has come in has tried to change it, but I’ve tried not to waste any energy and get too wound up by it because I think it is the culture of West Ham United.”
Moyes’ off-pitch troubles have played out against the backdrop of his side’s precarious position in the league.
The Hammers travel to Leicester this weekend just three points above the relegation zone following successive 4-1 defeats to Arsenal and City.
The east London side are without a win from their last four games, and have tricky home matches against Manchester United and Everton to come.
Moyes was hired in November to steady the West Ham ship and ensure their Premier League status, but some fans have been critical of the 55-year-old Scot.
“I’m surprised you say we get criticism from fans because all the fans I’ve met have been very supportive and think we’ve done a decent job,” Moyes said.
“But that’s football supporters for you, isn’t it? There are lots of things we need to do to improve, and we’re well aware of that but we probably wouldn’t have had the job if there weren’t things to be done.
“People, you would hope, would understand that we came into the job when the club was in the bottom three. Why suddenly then did they think they should be in the top 10? If they thought that, well, they couldn’t call themselves football supporters.”