West Ham United are expected to part company with manager Nuno Espírito Santo after their relegation from the Premier League was confirmed. The Portuguese manager has been summoned for talks with the board, and discussions are likely to culminate in his departure from the London Stadium.
Nuno's Future in Doubt
Nuno refused to discuss his future following West Ham's demotion to the Championship on Sunday. The former Nottingham Forest manager's three-year contract contains a clause that allows West Ham to terminate his employment without paying compensation. Similarly, Nuno retains the freedom to walk away from the club without financial penalty.
Club sources have indicated that it is improbable that Nuno wishes to remain at the helm for a Championship campaign. Sources close to David Sullivan, West Ham's majority shareholder, have revealed that the co-owner is also leaning towards making a managerial change, despite having previously expressed support for Nuno.
Relegation Blame and Performance
Nuno took over from Graham Potter last September but was unable to steer the club away from the relegation zone. Although he received financial backing during the January transfer window, his confusing training methods and questionable team selections reportedly did not sit well with several players. The team's inexorable slide to the bottom three ultimately proved irreversible.
Potential Successors
If Nuno's tenure ends, West Ham will be searching for their fifth manager in just two years. Early candidates of interest include Scott Parker, who recently left Burnley, and Gary O'Neil of Strasbourg, who previously managed Bournemouth and Wolves. Both are understood to be under consideration as the club plots its return to the Premier League.
