NOPETEGUI
Furious West Ham fans start PETITION to stop club replacing Moyes with Lopetegui as they reveal their top choice
Fans have an alternative name they would like to see hired
WEST HAM fans have launched a petition to stop the club appointing Julen Lopetegui as manager.
The Hammers' search for a new boss has ramped up in recent weeks with David Moyes out of contract in the summer.
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West Ham are reportedly in advanced talks with Lopetegui over replacing the Scot.
Lopetegui left Wolves last summer over spending concerns after finishing 13th in his first season in the Premier League last year.
But fans are not happy with the prospect of the former Real Madrid boss taking over, and would rather the club plumped for the other leading candidate - Sporting Lisbon's Ruben Amorim.
One supporter has even launched a petition on Change.org asking for 500 signatures, claiming Lopetegui is "not good enough, not ambitious enough" - suggesting his appointment would show a lack of care from the board.
A description of the petition reads: "If Milan can do it, so can we. Lopetegui is not good enough, not ambitious enough and is simply not the man to lead West Ham forward.
"It is the cheap option and shows a lack of care from the board, do not accept this.
"Amorim is the top choice for [Tim] Steidten and is worth the compensation for example, yet the board refuse to put their hands in their pockets."
The petition has some backers with fellow fans voicing their concerns over the Spaniard.
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One commented: "Amorim is by far the better choice. Lopetegui's record in club competitions is worse than Moyes.
"He's walked out on Spain, and the circumstances at Wolves is concerning. Amorim is who Steigten wants and he's an expert. Back the club, get the best manager to move us forward."
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Another added: "We currently have a manager, that has won us our first European trophy in over 40 years. In the last three years under Moyes, we've played European football.
"It doesn't make sense, Lopetegui failed miserably at Wolves. This wouldn't be a step up from Moyes."
A third wrote: "I want a progressive manager, that plays progressive attacking football and will help incorporate our impressive youth team players into the first team."
And another said: "We were promised next level (whatever that means) when we moved from the Boleyn. This potential appointment is not next level to Moyes."