Nuno Espirito Santo confirms he has already had discussions with West Ham United’s new interim CEO Karim Virani as the head coach looks to secure Premier League survival at the London Stadium.
One week after Karren Brady announced her sudden and unexpected departure, Karim Virani returned to West Ham to help fill a void behind the scenes.
Virani worked previously at the club between 2015 and 2020, in a role specialising in commercial, digital and marketing relations. The former Rangers chief has now been appointed as the interim CEO at a club seemingly approaching something of a transitional period off the pitch.
BREAKING NEWS! 🚨 How do you feel about West Ham appointing Karim Virani?
Virani joins as interim CEO following Karren Brady's exit…
While highly unpopular among the West Ham United supporters, a grateful Nuno Espirito Santo thanked Brady for the support she had shown him during six months at the helm. The Hammers may have hired Slaven Bilic instead, had David Sullivan got his way.
Now, speaking ahead of Saturday’s trip to near neighbours Brentford, Nuno confirms that he has wasted little time getting to know the man expected to take over many of Brady’s responsibilities for the time being.
Nuno Espirito Santo welcomes Karim Virani back to West Ham United
“I was just with him today. I met him today, and the message between us was clear,” Nuno said of Virani during his press conference on Thursday lunchtime. “Let’s do everything we can to support the team and accomplish our main goal.”
While Virani has a different job title to Brady – she was ‘vice-chair’ – their day-to-day roles are expected to be fairly similar behind the scenes.
With a background in blockchains and Esports, Virani is obviously someone with his finger firmly on the pulse when it comes to new technologies and new markets. In a statement provided via the club’s official website, though, he was also keen to point out that he will be defending the ‘working-class values’ of this old institution.
Virani explains his role at the Premier League survival battlers
“I am proud and honoured to be returning to West Ham United, a club I have a deep affinity and admiration for,” Virani said.
“This is a massive football club, with incredibly loyal and passionate supporters, a hugely talented and dedicated group of players, coaches and staff, a proud and unique heritage, and an ambition to be as successful as possible, both on and off the pitch.
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“I am determined to do everything I can to help the club achieve our objectives, with the absolute priority and focus of everyone here right now on supporting Nuno Espirito Santo and his players as they look to finish the season positively.
“In recent weeks and months, Nuno, his coaches, the players, staff and our supporters have shown great commitment and collective spirit to help improve our position in the Premier League. We have a mission to achieve between now and the end of the season and nothing will distract us from that.
“West Ham United is a club built on working-class values of hard work, honesty, commitment and togetherness – and those values must continue to be the bedrock of everything we do in the coming weeks and beyond.”
West Ham could move five points clear of Tottenham in the relegation zone this weekend, should they beat Brentford and Spurs lose to Villa Park on Sunday.
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