Nuno to stay as West Ham boss after relegation

Nuno Espirito Santo will remain in his role as manager of West Ham United, tasked with leading the team’s effort to regain promotion to the Premier League at the first opportunity.

In light of the club's recent relegation from the top tier, the Portuguese manager engaged in discussions with the club's senior leadership on Monday. While both parties could have opted to part ways without any financial repercussions, they have mutually decided to continue their partnership, driven by the aspiration that Nuno will replicate his previous success with Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he secured the Championship title in 2018.

The club communicated in an open letter to supporters, "We are pleased to confirm he has expressed his continued commitment to the club – as we have to him. Nuno made it very clear that he is highly motivated for the challenge of guiding West Ham United back to the top flight at the first time of asking. That must be the unquestionable goal for next season. Nuno has spent one previous year in the Championship, and it was an outstanding success as he secured 99 points to win the title with Wolverhampton Wanderers."

West Ham’s statement acknowledges that the club "cannot shy away from the fact our season has not been good enough." This marks the Hammers' first relegation to the Championship since 2012.

Club sources have estimated that the financial implications of relegation will cost approximately £200 million in lost revenue. Following a reported loss exceeding £100 million in their most recent financial accounts, further losses are anticipated this season, necessitating player sales from a squad that includes sought-after talents such as captain Jarrod Bowen and Portuguese midfielder Mateus Fernandes.

Nuno's previous promotion effort at Wolves was supported by players like Ruben Neves and loan signings such as Diogo Jota. It remains to be seen whether he will have access to a similar caliber of players in this subsequent campaign.

However, after a challenging beginning following Graham Potter’s departure in September, West Ham's management is optimistic about Nuno's potential to replicate his impressive promotion record. The board of directors expressed, "While the ultimate outcome on Sunday was a painful one, we believe there have been broader signs of improvement and progress in recent months, and we want Nuno to continue developing that progress. A total of 25 points taken from our final 17 Premier League matches equated to 1.47 points per game – a ratio that would have resulted in a 7th place finish across the total season. Furthermore, we feel the clear improvement in squad mentality and togetherness since January, leading to that upturn in performances and results, makes him the right man to lead us forward."

Hammers pledge to listen to fans

In addition to their objective of immediate promotion from the Championship, the club is also committed to mending their relationship with supporters. Many fans have harbored grievances regarding the club's relocation from Upton Park to the London Stadium in 2016.

Although the London Stadium is the second largest venue in the Premier League, boasting a capacity of 62,500—almost double that of the next largest grounds in the Championship—many supporters perceive it as lacking character. More critically, fans feel that the promises made surrounding the relocation, especially regarding the club's ability to compete at the top level and consistently in European competitions, have not been fulfilled.

Among those who orchestrated the move, only chairman David Sullivan remains; his business partner David Gold passed away in January 2023, while vice-chair Karren Brady resigned last month, citing ongoing supporter abuse as a significant factor in her decision.

West Ham acknowledged the deep emotional impact of relegation on the club’s devoted supporters, stating, "For every single person who is passionate about the club, it (relegation) hurts deeply, and that feeling will sustain for some time. The board must now review every aspect of the club's operation to ensure that when we return to the Premier League – hopefully in August 2027 – we are a better West Ham United in every way, on and off the pitch."

The club emphasized their commitment to enhancing communication with the fanbase, stating, "We know we must also take steps to repair the club's relationship with its fanbase. We want West Ham United to be a club that listens to all of our supporters and communicates with them in a clear and transparent way. We are committed to taking supporter feedback on board, and backing that up with real, significant actions—starting with reductions of up to 30% across all season ticket prices for next season."