West Ham chief BANNED from entering David Moyes’ dressing room to keep pair apart while he searches for new manager
WEST HAM have told technical director, Tim Steidten, to stay away from David Moyes and the first team for the rest of the season.
Steidten has been leading the search for potential new managers with Hammers boss Moyes, 61, out of contract this summer and unlikely to stay on at the London Stadium.
The German has met with Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim and ex-Real Madrid and Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui, who is the current front-runner should Moyes depart.
Moyes and Steidten have often clashed over potential targets or transfers since the latter was appointed in July last year, though their relationship was said to have improved until of late.
Steidten can often be seen pitchside before games in discussion with the ex-Manchester United manager, while he is often around the tunnel and changing room after games.
However, with tensions increasing over Moyes' future, a decision has now been made to keep the two apart at both the London Stadium and the club's Rush Green training ground.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
The former director at Bayer Leverkusen and Werder Bremen will still attend West Ham's final three games against Chelsea, Luton and Manchester City.
Sources at the club say it is so that the manager and players can focus on a strong end to the season and Steidten can continue to work on planning for the future.
West Ham have enjoyed deep European runs during the last three seasons in a row under Moyes' stewardship.
They bowed out of this season's Europa League at the quarter-final stage after losing to Leverkusen last month.
BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS
Who are David Moyes' backroom staff?

Billy McKinlay - First team coach
The former Scotland international joined West Ham as a coach in 2021. He has a close relationship with David Moyes.
John Heitinga - First team coach
The ex-Everton and Fulham star joined as a member of Moyes' coaching staff last September.
He knew the Scottish manager through his spell at Goodison Park.
Kevin Nolan - First team coach
Nolan has been with the Hammers since 2020. He previously played for West Ham, Bolton, Newcastle, Leyton Orient and Notts County.
Mark Robson - First team coach
Robson was appointed head coach of West Ham's Under-21's in 2021 but was promoted to one of Moyes' assistants last year.
Henry Newman - First team coach
Newman has been at West Ham United since January 2020.
He also works as lead opposition scout.
Xavi Valero - Goalkeeper coach
The Spaniard was appointed as West Ham’s goalkeeper coach in June 2018.
Richard Collinge - Performance Director
Collinge was appointed as West Ham's Head of Medical in 2018 but was promoted to Performance Director last year.
The Hammers are still in the chase for European football next season, sitting eighth in the Premier League with three games remaining.
Moyes' men will need favours from elsewhere, however, as they are four points behind seventh-placed Newcastle and five off Manchester United.
West Ham drew 2-2 with Liverpool at London Stadium last time out.
Moyes was upbeat after his side's performance, saying: "I’m incredibly pleased with the way they’ve shown character, as much as coming from 2-1 down today as coming on the back of a stinking result last week.
"They stuck at it against a really good team who made it difficult for us to get large portions of possession.
"We’ve done it quite often to a lot of the bigger sides here this season — Tottenham, Man United, Chelsea — so maybe you shouldn’t be too surprised that we’ve bloodied somebody’s nose.
"We’d have liked three points but just weren’t quite good enough for that. I thought that Liverpool were the better team."