Harry Redknapp has delivered a damning verdict on his old club West Ham, claiming the Hammers are no longer the club he knew and insisting their fiercely loyal supporters deserve far better than they are getting.

The former West Ham player and manager has criticised the club’s loss of identity following the move from Upton Park to the London Stadium and what Hammers fans are having to put up with on the pitch.

Harry Redknapp knows the Hammers better than most. He came through the club during the era of Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters before returning as manager in 1994 and leading West Ham to a club record fifth place finish in the Premier League.

Now, in an interview with FourFourTwo, he has made clear just how far he believes the club has fallen from its roots.

Redknapp says West Ham have lost their identity

Redknapp’s most striking criticism concerns the atmosphere that once made Upton Park such a formidable home for visiting teams.

He recalled the days when the crowd singing I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles at the Boleyn created an intimidating atmosphere, contrasting that with what he sees at the London Stadium today.

“The atmosphere at Upton Park was second to none,” Redknapp said.

“When that crowd sang ‘I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles’, the atmosphere was intimidating, incredible.

“That’s gone. It’s not the club that I knew.”

He added that West Ham supporters deserved better, pointing to the extraordinary fact that over 50,000 fans had committed to season tickets despite relegation to the Championship, the second-most in the UK behind Manchester United.

Redknapp added: “The fans deserve better than what they’re getting now. They’ve sold 50,000 season tickets this year – in the Championship. It’s a massive club.”

It is a powerful contradiction at the heart of West Ham’s current predicament. The club has suffered relegation, endured years of frustration over recruitment and seen supporters question whether the move away from Upton Park delivered the promised improvements in atmosphere, ambition and identity.

Yet the fans have continued to turn up in remarkable numbers.

West Ham’s loyal fans deserve better

The shift to the London Stadium was supposed to help West Ham compete with the biggest clubs in the country. The club enjoyed European success and lifted the Europa Conference League in 2023, but the subsequent decline and return to the second tier have reopened old arguments about what the Hammers sacrificed when they left their traditional home.

Despite relegation, the Hammers retained one of the largest season-ticket bases in the country. That loyalty has continued even as results, recruitment decisions and managerial changes have tested patience.

New director of recruitment Nils Koppen has spoken about the scale of the support he has encountered in east London, explaining how the club’s passionate fanbase has helped him communicate West Ham’s appeal to potential signings.

That creates a difficult challenge for the club. The supporters are demonstrating their commitment, but they also expect the organisation to match it with a clear direction and a squad capable of delivering success.

Redknapp’s criticism is not simply about nostalgia for Upton Park. It is a challenge to West Ham to rediscover what made the club distinctive.

For a club that has repeatedly promised to reach the next level, Redknapp’s verdict will make for uncomfortable reading for many, especially the old regime.