West Ham retain Nuno Espirito Santo to lead Championship promotion bid

Nuno Espirito Santo will continue as West Ham United manager as the club prepare for their first season in the Championship since 2012, with the board confirming his position on Wednesday morning following last weekend’s relegation.

West Ham beat Leeds 3-0 on the final day of the Premier League season but were condemned to the second tier after Tottenham Hotspur defeated Everton 1-0 to secure their own survival. The Hammers finished on 39 points — a tally that would have been sufficient for top-flight safety in each of the previous 14 seasons — but could not escape the bottom three.

In an open letter to supporters, the West Ham board cited a significant upturn in form under Nuno as the primary reason for keeping faith with the 52-year-old. “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 seventh-place finish across the full season,” the board wrote, adding that “the clear improvement in squad mentality and togetherness since January” made him the right man to lead the club forward.

Nuno took charge at the London Stadium in late September after Graham Potter was sacked, and the board acknowledged that while the outcome was painful, broader signs of progress justified his retention. The club also pointed to his Championship pedigree: in 2018, he guided Wolverhampton Wanderers to the title with a record 99 points, earning promotion to the Premier League at the first attempt.

“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,” the board’s letter stated. “That must be the unquestionable goal for next season.”

The task ahead is considerable. Club sources estimate relegation will cost West Ham approximately £200 million in lost revenue, and key players including Jarrod Bowen and Mateus Fernandes are expected to be sold. During the final-day win over Leeds, sections of the support directed frustration at the club’s ownership, a sentiment that is unlikely to dissipate quickly given the financial and sporting challenges of life in the second tier.