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Joe Cole has accused West Ham's board of dithering over Graham Potter's sacking and blasted the 'unusual' timing of the decision.
Potter was dismissed on Saturday with West Ham 19th in the Premier League, only 48 hours before they face Everton.
His exit came after just 25 games in charge following a run of three wins in 15 league matches.
Nuno Espirito Santo has been appointed as Potter's successor, with the club hoping his more conservative style can immediately tighten a defence that has leaked goals throughout the opening weeks of the season.
The former England winger, who made 126 appearances for the Hammers after coming through their academy, believes the club left their manager exposed.
'The timing is unusual two days before a game but the writing was on the wall for Graham,' he told TNT Sports. 'To lose three London derbies the way they did wasn't good enough. I don't think he was given enough backing, in this transfer window in particular.
Joe Cole has accused West Ham's board of dithering over Graham Potter 's sacking and blasted the 'unusual' timing of the decision
Potter was dismissed on Saturday with West Ham 19th in the Premier League , only 48 hours before they face Everton
'They should have gone, "If you're our guy, there you go, what's your plan?". But I think they dithered, thought 'Is he or isn't he (the guy)?'.'
Heavy defeats and rising unrest among supporters defined Potter's reign. West Ham opened the season with a 3-0 loss at newly promoted Sunderland and were thrashed 5-1 at home by Chelsea before a limp exit from the EFL Cup at the hands of Wolves.
Crystal Palace's 2-1 win at London Stadium last weekend ultimately proved to be his final match in charge.
Cole argued that Potter had been brought in on a promise of change which never materialised, adding: 'Ultimately it was going in the wrong direction so I understand why the club did it.
'The real shame for Graham is he came in at a difficult time for the club. I would imagine the conversations were 'We're going to restructure, change the style of play, bring in players you want to bring in' but that never happened.'
‘I wish him the best in the future and hopefully things can turn around for West Ham as well,’ Cole added. ‘If I was in charge of West Ham, I’d rip up the whole club, invest in the academy, and get the right type of player in for the manager.’
The club's statement on Saturday confirmed that Potter and his staff had left with immediate effect and thanked them for their work.
It explained that results and performances since the second half of last season had not met expectations and a change was necessary to improve the team's position.
Cole, who made 126 appearances for the Hammers, believes the club left their manager exposed. Pictured: Co-owner David Sullivan
Nuno Espirito Santo has been appointed as Potter's successor, with the club hoping his more conservative style can immediately tighten their defence
Cole also tipped Nuno to stabilise the team after conceding a flood of goals.
'When a manager of that quality (Nuno) is out of a job, and West Ham are in trouble. Nuno is a more defensive manager, West Ham have been leaking goals, so he can straight away improve them and their set-pieces. It's a good fit.
'Nuno needs to lift the club. When fans are walking out of games it's not good, they need someone who can get them believing.'
Peter Crouch echoed Cole’s verdict on the state of the club, saying: ‘The fans had turned and there was no real way back for him. It was apparent the writing was on the wall for him.’
Nuno has just two days to prepare his squad for the clash against in-form Everton before an even more daunting away trip to London rivals Arsenal.
