talkSPORT have claimed they were forbidden from airing what two West Ham stars said about David Moyes during an interview.
West Ham take on Liverpool in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.
It is a big game given a title is at stake for the Reds and a European spot for the Hammers.
But you could be forgiven for forgetting the game was even on given focus has very much been on new managers for West Ham and Liverpool in the build-up.
Speculation has swirled around a plethora of managers – 14 no less – being linked as potential replacements for David Moyes at West Ham this summer.
The Scot’s contract is up at the end of the campaign. And reports abound it will not be renewed.
West Ham are said to have already held talks with Ruben Amorim and Julen Lopetegui.
West Ham not hiding search for new boss
Co-owner David Sullivan and Tim Steidten are reported to have a shortlist – which is more like a long-list – of at least a dozen names.
Some pundits, fans and journalists have criticised the fact West Ham seem to be so publicly planning to replace Moyes.
But that has not stopped them reporting on and lapping up the news surrounding Moyes and his potential successor.
West Ham are damned if they do and damned if they don’t. If the club did not do its due diligence and cover every angle to make the right decision then they would face equal criticism.
The Hammers cannot necessarily control what is reported by the various outlets and journalists all fighting for nuggets of information.
What they can control, though, it seems, is what questions the media put to their players and the answers they broadcast.
talkSPORT forbidden from airing what stars said about Moyes
Because talkSPORT claim they were forbidden from airing what West Ham stars said about Moyes.
Ahead of the Liverpool game, talkSPORT aired an interview with Hammers captain Kurt Zouma and goalkeeper Alphonse Areola on Friday lunchtime.
During said interview there was little to no mention of Moyes or his future. Given the speculation swirling around the manager this week, that struck many fans as odd.
And of course supporters would be minded to criticise the media platform for failing to ask pertinent questions.
But after the interview was aired, presenter Jim White claimed the club’s communications team made it clear any of Zouma and Areola’s answers on Moyes were not to be broadcast.
That’s despite both players being happy to speak about their boss.
“Just a footnote to that (interview with Zouma and Areola),” White said on his talkSPORT show at 12.43pm.
“If you are wondering why there was no extensive mention of David Moyes in that chat with Kurt Zouma and Areola, the two boys had no problem talking about Moyes.
“Unfortunately for us and you the listeners out there, I think the club decided they did not want any answers about David Moyes to be broadcast. So, that was that. So, we didn’t get into it.
“As I stressed, the lads seemed happy enough to talk about it, but we didn’t include those answers in the edit.”