How much influence did Daniel Kretinsky have upon the decision West Ham United announced on Wednesday morning, that Nuno Espirito Santo will be staying on in the Championship?
Christian Purslow, a former Aston Villa CEO who also worked in senior roles for Liverpool and Chelsea, suspects quite a lot.
It was confirmed yesterday that the Hammers are backing Nuno Espirito Santo to lead the club out of the second tier at the first time of asking. While West Ham United were initially expected to make a change – Scott Parker and Craig Bellamy were popular candidates in the eyes of the supporters – Nuno now has the chance to emulate his 2018 title-winning season with Wolves.
Nuno stays! Tell us how YOU are feeling about the big news!
Vote below 👇
Reports from a number of sources – including The Guardian – alledge that Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky was the one pushing for Nuno to stay.
Co-chairman David Sullivan seemed less keen on the idea. That Kretinsky eventually won out in this power struggle – Purslow argues – reflects the fact that Kretinsky now boasts a bigger stake in West Ham following the passing of Sullivan’s long-time partner David Gold.
Daniel Kretinsky key in Nuno Espirito Santo staying at West Ham United
“I remember talking about West Ham and the whole power-sharing between the two co-owners; David Sullivan and Daniel Kretinsky,” co-host Henry Winter begins on the Football Boardroom podcast, dubbing the Hammers a car with two steering wheels and two drivers.
“I just think: how is that going to work? [Nuno staying was] signed off by the board but do you think both of them generally wanted this? Is this a decision that’s driven more by Kretinsky?
“We felt it was highly likely that, in the scenario where they were relegated, really for both the club and Nuno, it made sense to have this idea of a sort of mutual walkaway,” Purslow responds.
“From Nuno’s perspective, he’s a guy who certainly sees himself as an elite, tier-one manager in the Premier League and would expect to be on the shortlist for almost all the jobs in the Premier League. Certainly anything maybe outside the ‘Big Six’.
“Forty-eight hours ago, most of us thought Nuno would be going. It crossed my mind, and I think it may have come to pass, that this is the first moment where the power-sharing arrangements I discussed came into play.
“Namely, following a change to the ownership percentages at West Ham. David Sullivan for years has been in effective complete control of West Ham as the largest shareholder with 37 per cent. What we believe has happened is that Daniel Kretinsky has stepped up from 27 per cent to 40 per cent.
“In essence, the price of Kretinsky increasing his shareholding would for sure [mean] more influence, more power, and more control over the crucial issues affecting the business. Appointments probably being the most important of all.”
What’s your early prediction for West Ham’s 2026/27 Championship campaign? 👀
Hammers hope Nuno can keep the springtime momentum going
In their official statement confirming the manager’s fate, West Ham highlighted Nuno’s previous success in the Championship, as well as a respectable tally of 25 points in the final 17 games.
A tally only six Premier League teams could better.
“I think we can safely assume that, for the first time since Daniel arrived, there would have been a really genuine to-and-fro between Sullivan and Kretinsky on the first question post-relegation; What are we going to do about Nuno?” adds Purslow
“If I was Kretinsky, I think he’d have looked at Nuno and said; ‘He’s been in the [job] now a year. He’s settled in. Yes, there’s been good and bad but, on balance, he’s done a pretty good job. 39 points would normally have kept you up. 25 points out of the last 17 games…”
“I know he got relegated but I think Kretinsky would say, for sure, that [Nuno’s] track record in terms of points per game, and his track record in what he’s done here, certainly in the last few months, means he’d be the best coach in the Championship by some way.”
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
