For a club in West Ham United’s predicament, it may feel that there is hardly a box that Scott Parker does not tick.
The former Hammers midfielder, as they say, knows the club. Three times Parker has secured promotion out of the Championship, with three different clubs no less; Fulham, Bournemouth and Burnley.
So, given that Nuno Espirito Santo is expected to depart the London Stadium following 14 hitherto unbroken seasons of Premier League football, it was inevitable that Scott Parker’s name would feature heavily on a list of early frontrunners.
Sporting director Mark Noble is an admirer of Parker the manager, too, even if his quite dismal Premier League record makes the 45-year-old look like more of a quick fix than a long-term solution.
Noble, though, will presumably have followed the embryonic coaching career of another former West Ham United teammate closely too. One seemingly with a growing throng of admirers in East London.
West Ham United fans talk up Craig Bellamy return
When one Hammers fan asked on X, in the aftermath of Sunday’s relegation, who their fellow supporters would select out of Nuno and Parker, one put forward another, alternative suggestion; Craig Bellamy.
Bellamy, who spent two years at Upton Park from 2009 to 2011, is currently the head coach of Wales.
While Parker is viewed by many as a guarantee of Championship success – only Steve Bruce has secured promotion out of the second tier more times – Bellamy has earned plenty of admirers for the way he has instilled a fluid, attack-minded, high-pressing style upon the Welsh national team; channeling his explosive, intense personality into becoming a manager players would run through brick walls for.
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“Realistically Parker [over Nuno], but hopefully neither. Would love us to go after Bellamy,” one fan writes on X. “Just not sure whether he will be gettable.”
Ironically, Bellamy has been tipped to replace Parker at Burnley this summer. Reports indicate that, while he is under contract until 2028, a compensation fee of £700,000 could be enough to get him out of the Welsh hotseat. Celtic are reportedly interested too.
Wales suffered World Cup play-off heartbreak against Poland, meaning interested parties may not have to wait until July to make an approach.
Bellamy the popular choice among many Hammers supporters
“I’ve been saying for months, do whatever needs to be done to get Craig Bellamy in for next season,” another fan argues, the 46-year-old having presided over a highly impressive qualification campaign in which Wales won five out of eight games, thrashed North Macedonia 7-1 and even scored seven times in two meetings with Belgium.
“Spot on, sets standards and is an excellent coach. Would take Parker but prefer Bellamy.”
“No thanks [to Parker], more boring than ‘Moyesball’. Need to go all out for Bellamy.”
“Go for Bellamy or Thomas Frank, but most fans seem to want Parker for some bizarre reason!”
“Bellamy would be my choice.”
“Bellamy should be chased down, locked in a cage until he agrees.”
“The best choice, can’t think of better man-to-club fit. A genuine football addict and a leader of men.”
“All day long! Geezer gets the club. Wants to play on the front foot. Can’t be any worse than the last three we have had!”
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