The irony in Mark Noble having a hand in orchestrating David Moyes’s exit at West Ham is not lost on those with connections to the London Stadium.
Noble only started his new position as sporting director at the start of the month and now is set to have a pivotal role in potentially dismissing a man he played under for four seasons.
The Hammers hero will take no pleasure in doing so, having struck up an excellent relationship with Moyes. But business is business and West Ham are not in the business of contemplating relegation.
In truth, Moyes’ position has been under scrutiny way before Noble’s return. While the climax of last season will always be remembered for their run to the Europa League semi-final, concern grew behind the scenes over their domestic form.
The Hammers won one of their final seven league matches. They carried that form into the start of this campaign, winning one of their first seven league games. They have won just three since, leaving them in the bottom three.
There is mitigation, namely that form on the continent remains excellent, winning all eight games in the Europa Conference League and taking their place in the last 16 in March.
The decision over whether Moyes will be in charge at that juncture, however, is at a tipping point and defeat to Everton this weekend will leave him in danger of being shown the door. It is testament to his relationship with chairman David Sullivan that Moyes is still in with a fighting chance.
However, it is unlikely the 59-year-old would still be manager if there was a real chance of replacing him with someone viewed as an upgrade.
The ambition to attract a top-tier coach to lead West Ham into the future remains strong, although one source described those aspirations as unrealistic.
Mauricio Pochettino and Thomas Tuchel are obvious candidates, but why would either join West Ham? One is understood to have already declined the opportunity to even discuss replacing Moyes.
Anyway, the duo’s earning potential — both were paid close to £10million a year at their previous jobs — would exceed the Hammers’ budget.
Former Tottenham and Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo has been discussed too, but is also paid a princely sum in Saudi Arabia with Al-Ittihad. Moyes is said to earn around £5m a year.
The merits of Marcelo Bielsa, Rafa Benitez and Paulo Fonseca have been championed but are unlikely to excite fans nor calm relegation anxieties. That is all part of the quandary, there is no obvious strategy if Moyes goes.
Even if he survives, speculation over his future will persist.
The club’s ownership structure has been thrust into focus by the passing of joint-chairman and majority shareholder David Gold.
If, as sources have indicated, the club’s second largest shareholder Daniel Kretinsky launches a takeover bid, you would expect him to make his own managerial appointment.
It seems no matter which way Moyes turns, his back is up against the wall.