West Ham have confirmed Nuno Espirito Santo will remain as manager in the Championship – but one top journalist thinks the board are making a mistake.
When the Hammers were relegated on the final day of the season, Nuno Espirito Santo was widely expected to depart the London Stadium.
As first revealed by Hammers News way back in April, West Ham had a break clause in Nuno’s three-year deal if they dropped down to the Championship.
The likes of Scott Parker, Slaven Bilic, Craig Bellamy, Sean Dyche and even Nuno’s assistant Paco Jemez had been linked as potential replacements for the Portuguese.
Steinberg explains why West Ham made a mistake keeping Nuno
None of those candidates were particularly convincing as far as the club’s supporters were concerned, with no clear favourite among them.
West Ham believed Nuno wanted to leave if the club was demoted to the second tier given he and his representatives insisted on the break clause when he took over from the hapless Graham Potter.
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Many fans feel it is better the devil you know given there are no particularly outstanding candidates to replace Nuno.
So there was an element of relief when West Ham made an ambitious statement on the future of Nuno and Jarrod Bowen in a Hammers News exclusive earlier this week.
That was followed by an official announcement that the manager would be staying on.
It has been claimed in some quarters that David Sullivan wanted to make a change but co-owner Daniel Kretinsky insisted on keeping Nuno.
What Nuno told the West Ham board convinced them to keep him.
But leading journalist Jacob Steinberg has explained why he thinks it is a mistake.
West Ham were at pains to point out Nuno’s record as manager since January when they confirmed he would take charge of the team in the Championship.
Steinberg: Nuno had 33 games and messed it up
The Hammers laid out the team’s points per game since the turn of the year and highlighted the fact Nuno got Wolves promoted as Champions with 99 points.
But Steinberg, who has strong sources inside the club, feels the owners have been short-sighted and may be making a mistake.
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In a rant on X, Guardian reporter Steinberg points out Nuno had 33 of the club’s 38 games and “messed up” the first half of them as he failed to keep the club up.
“It’s all well and good West Ham saying they would have finished 7th based on the last 17 games, but they didn’t, they finished 18th,” Steinberg said.
“Nuno had 33 games and messed up the first half. One of his signings didn’t score, one didn’t start a game.
“There was an improvement but the only convincing wins were Sunderland and Wolves. Performances mostly fizzled out post international break. They got away with it vs Everton but blew most of the crunch games.
“Nuno’s call to play back three and start Wilson up front on his own vs a poor Newcastle. Won last game but Leeds on beach and first half dreadful from West Ham. Portraying this all as an incredible job isn’t credible.
“Saying that Nuno probably is well placed to get them out of the Championship, having done it with Wolves. Difference being he had an incredibly strong side back then. West Ham set for a total reset and have huge financial issues. Plus supporter resentment in that stadium…
“Sullivan did get them up at first time of asking in 2012. Maybe Nuno is this year’s Allardyce. But what West Ham did then was keep Green, Noble, Cole, Tomkins, Reid: a solid core. They also signed Nolan from a Premier League side. They were well set to go again.”
Steinberg makes some very salient points that will resonate with those who do not feel Nuno is the right fit.
His tactics and team selections have been questionable at times and have arguably cost the club dear. Especially given the Hammers only missed out on survival by a solitary win.
Given West Ham have been keen to point to Nuno’s work at Wolves in the Championship, Hammers News has taken a deep dive into that remarkable season.
We have also looked at every team West Ham will face in Championship as the 2026-27 fixture release date is confirmed.
West Ham have been installed as the clear favourites to win the Championship next season.
And the club has expressly said that is the expectation.
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