West Ham Sack Nuno Espírito Santo, Hold Talks With Scott Parker Over Managerial Replacement

West Ham United have parted ways with head coach Nuno Espírito Santo following a disappointing start to their Championship campaign, with former England international Scott Parker emerging as the leading candidate to take over at the London-based club.

The decision, announced on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, comes after a poor run of results that has left West Ham struggling to establish themselves among the leading contenders for promotion back to the Premier League.

The Hammers currently occupy eighth position on the Championship table, six points behind league leaders Middlesbrough, following consecutive home defeats against Southampton and West Bromwich Albion.

West Ham first suffered a 3-2 defeat to Southampton before losing 3-1 to West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, results that reportedly increased concerns among the club’s hierarchy about the team’s performances and their chances of securing an immediate return to the top flight.

Nuno, 52, was appointed West Ham manager in September 2025, replacing Graham Potter. However, he was unable to prevent the club’s relegation from the Premier League last season and subsequently struggled to produce the consistency required to mount a convincing promotion challenge in the Championship.

Confirming his departure, West Ham stated that the decision followed a comprehensive review of the team’s performances at the beginning of the season.

The club also confirmed the departure of assistant head coach Rui Pedro Silva and goalkeeping coach Rui Barbosa, who had worked alongside the Portuguese manager.

West Ham expressed appreciation for the contributions of Nuno and his coaching staff during their time at the club, while confirming that the process of identifying a new head coach was already underway.

Meanwhile, former West Ham midfielder Scott Parker has emerged as the leading candidate for the vacant managerial position, with discussions reportedly taking place between both parties.

Parker, 46, is no stranger to the London Stadium, having represented West Ham during his playing career between 2007 and 2011, making 129 appearances for the club.

The former England international has also developed considerable managerial experience in English football, particularly in the Championship, where he guided Fulham, Bournemouth and Burnley to promotion to the Premier League.

His familiarity with the demands of the Championship and previous success in securing promotion are believed to make him an attractive candidate for West Ham as the club seeks to return to the Premier League at the earliest opportunity.

In the interim, West Ham sporting director Mark Noble, alongside Steve Potts and Gerard Prenderville, will oversee preparations for the team’s next Championship fixture against Cardiff City on Wednesday.

The potential appointment of Parker is expected to provide a fresh direction for the Hammers as they attempt to revive their promotion ambitions and restore stability following Nuno’s departure.

West Ham’s immediate priority will be to appoint a manager capable of turning around the team’s fortunes and ensuring that the club does not lose further ground in the race for promotion.