West Ham have acknowledged a difference between the men’s first-team style of play and that of the Academy sides, with director of football Nils Koppen confirming the club is working towards a more unified approach across the club.

The admission emerged from minutes of the latest Fan Advisory Board meeting held at the London Stadium earlier this month, offering an insight into one of the challenges facing West Ham as they attempt to rebuild following relegation to the Championship.

Supporter representatives highlighted that the men’s first team played differently from some Academy sides. Director of recruitment Nils Koppen, who arrived in the summer, acknowledged the issue and said the club was working towards greater consistency in training and playing football.

However, making that ambition a reality could prove complicated while Nuno Espirito Santo remains in charge.

According to the minutes, Koppen discussed West Ham’s footballing DNA and culture, highlighting togetherness, resilience, long-term development, the relationship between players and supporters, and the importance of making football entertaining.

Those principles speak to the club’s desire to establish a recognisable identity extending beyond the senior team, an approach adopted by many successful clubs – some who would be deemed far smaller than the Hammers in terms of size, history and status.

For years, fans have felt the club has drifted too far from the ‘West Ham Way’ heritage, traditionally associated with attacking football, technical ability and bringing exciting young players through the Academy.

The minutes do not specify exactly which tactical differences were raised, nor do they identify particular academy teams as being out of step with Nuno’s side.

But for fans who watch both the first team and Academy, it is clear the development sides play a brand of football more in-keeping with the ‘West Ham way’.

So the admission raises an obvious question: how does West Ham create a consistent identity throughout the club if the senior team’s football does not reflect the approach the academy is trying to develop?

Nuno’s managerial approach has generally been more pragmatic, with defensive organisation and rapid counter-attacks playing important roles in his teams.

That can be effective, particularly when a side is looking to exploit space and win games through transitions. And Nuno has the enormous pressure of finding the best way to win with the players at his disposal in order to win promotion back to the Premier League.

Nuno’s style presents a challenge for West Ham

But it is not necessarily the same philosophy supporters associate with West Ham’s traditional identity.

The Portuguese manager has faced criticism from sections of the fanbase this season over cautious performances, slow starts and a perceived lack of attacking ambition, even when results have kept the Hammers in the promotion picture.

There is no suggestion in the Fan Advisory Board minutes that Koppen has criticised Nuno or that the club is preparing to replace him. Equally, the discussion does not establish that the academy’s style is inherently better than the senior team’s.

Nevertheless, if West Ham genuinely want one recognisable approach to training, playing football and developing young talent, the manager’s philosophy will inevitably be central to that process.

That is where the longer-term challenge lies. Koppen may be able to improve alignment around recruitment, coaching principles and the pathway into the first team, but a more fundamental shift in playing identity could be difficult without a manager whose style naturally fits those ambitions.

Koppen’s comments should be seen in the context of a wider attempt to establish a sustainable football structure at West Ham.

He arrived on July 4 and had only 85 days before the end of the summer transfer window to oversee a major squad rebuild. His remit extends beyond recruitment, however, with the club also needing to create a clearer connection between its academy and senior football.

West Ham may ultimately need a new manager to complete transition

A unified philosophy could help young players understand what is expected of them before making the step up. It could also help West Ham recruit players who fit a clear footballing identity rather than assembling a squad around the preferences of successive managers.

That does not mean Nuno cannot make progress towards Koppen’s objective. But if the club wants a more expansive, technically consistent approach that reflects its heritage, it may ultimately need a manager whose methods are more closely aligned with that vision.

The Fan Advisory Board minutes provide no timetable for the changes and do not suggest that a managerial departure is planned.

They do, however, reveal that West Ham recognise a difference between the first team and some academy sides.

Whether Koppen can bridge that gap under Nuno, or whether the most significant change must wait until a future managerial appointment, remains an important question for the club’s long-term direction.