West Ham took too long to sack Nuno and now must trust Parker to do what he does best | Jacob Steinberg

It has taken West Ham six months to come to their senses and sack Nuno Espírito Santo, but at least the decision has arrived early enough to revive their hopes of automatic promotion.

Dithering was no longer an option after the dismal performance against West Brom last Saturday.

West Ham, eighth in the Championship and four points off the top two, had to act after a second consecutive home defeat. They are in danger of slipping into a battle for a playoff spot and needed to move on from Nuno after just over a year of his confused, passive football.

Related: West Ham turn to Scott Parker after sacking Nuno Espírito Santo as head coach

Nuno did a terrible job after replacing Graham Potter as manager in September 2025. The 52-year-old had 33 games to save West Ham from relegation and failed. He has the most expensive squad in the Championship but his side have not lived up to their billing as title favourites and their stuttering form has exposed the folly of not sacking Nuno at the end of last season.

David Sullivan, then the club’s largest shareholder, wanted a change. But Daniel Kretinsky favoured continuity and looked to capitalise on the shifting power dynamics in the boardroom. Karren Brady had stepped down as vice-chair in April – Karim Virani replaced her in an interim role – and there was further upheaval when Sullivan resigned as joint-chair and a director of the club to fight what he described as “false allegations” regarding his personal conduct.

Sullivan bears most culpability for West Ham’s relegation. He still owns a 40% stake but is no longer on the board and West Ham are better off without him dictating key decisions. Equally, though, where Sullivan was not mistaken was in wanting Nuno gone. Kretinsky got his first big call wrong. At least the Czech billionaire has given Nuno’s replacement time to get the team back on track. The task falls to Scott Parker, who has been on the market since leaving Burnley last April. Parker is regarded as a “safe” appointment and has been on West Ham’s radar for a while.

Some wanted the former England midfielder in the summer and his name was mentioned again when West Ham failed to win their first three league games. Patience was wearing thin. A subsequent run of four wins in a row swiftly proved a false dawn.

Interactive West Ham have not had the right mindset. They have two wins from their past six games and have often started playing only after going a goal down. A 6-0 win against Wrexham was a highlight but victory at Lincoln by the same scoreline came with the caveat that the Imps received two red cards before half-time.

There was no identity under Nuno. West Ham are unbeaten on the road and won 1-0 at the then table-topping Swansea last month but it has been hard to tell Nuno broke the Football League transfer record with the £22m signing of the Belgium midfielder Arne Engels from Celtic. Even Jarrod Bowen, who was convinced to sign a new deal in the summer, has been off colour. Nuno’s tactics mean the winger, West Ham’s top scorer, is often crowded out.