- Sunday’s relegation means West Ham are a Championship club for the first time since 2011
- Nuno Espírito Santo was brought in last September to stave off the Hammers’ Premier League drop
- Nuno managed in the Championship with Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2018
The morning after the night before: the fallout from West Ham United’s Premier League relegation continues as the club hierarchy holds crisis talks with Nuno Espírito Santo this Monday morning.
Nuno succeeded Graham Potter last September after the East London club’s dismal start to the season under the now-Sweden international coach, with the 52-year-old’s Portuguese domestic expertise seen as the ideal choice to stave off off the Hammers’ Premier League drop.
However, following Sunday’s relegation from England’s top-flight – the first since the 2011 season – Nuno faces dismal less than a year into the three-year contract he signed with the club.
Crisis talks meetings centre around Nuno Espírito Santo’s West Ham future
According to The Times, Nuno has been called to a meeting with West Ham’s vice-chairman, David Sullivan, and other board members, with respective sources claiming that the head coach may be fired by the end of the day.
The aforementioned source also states that a provision in Nuno’s contract allows West Ham to dismiss him without compensation, as the team did not survive its primary objective of Premier League status. It echoes the various reports on the Portuguese from the last month, as the club’s end of the season has been culminating following a run of three defeats in their last four league games.
In his post-match interview with UK broadcaster Sky Sports, Nuno remained tight-lipped on his future after Sunday’s match: “For the supporters, for the respect we have for them, it’s not the moment to speak about the future.”
“For the respect for them, we should understand today. Tomorrow, we will start thinking about what we have to do.”
Nuno’s departure may trigger the comeback of fan favourite
Nuno’s departure will be a surprise to many. Despite his part in the club’s relegation, there are not many better coaches in West Ham’s recent grasp to get them back up to the Premier League. The Portuguese coach won the second tier with Wolverhampton Wanderers in the 2017-18 season before enjoying a commendable three years with the Molineux club in the top flight.
Nuno’s Wolves side reached 99 points as they sailed through the league. Given the financial strain that West Ham are increasingly finding themselves in, Nuno’s £8 million contract may simply not be justifiable for the club in the Championship.
If the former Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur coach does leave, the club may have an intense shortlist, given the current situation, with former Hammer of the Year and recent Burnley boss Scott Parker emerging as a leading name.
