Nuno Espirito Santo will remain in charge of West Ham United as the club prepares for life in the Championship following relegation from the Premier League.
The Portuguese coach held discussions with senior club officials on Monday after West Ham’s drop from the top flight was confirmed. Despite the option for either party to walk away without compensation, both the club and manager agreed to continue together in an attempt to secure an immediate return to the Premier League.
In an open letter addressed to supporters, West Ham confirmed their commitment to the former Wolves manager and outlined their belief that he is capable of guiding the club back to the top division.
“We are pleased to confirm he has expressed his continued commitment to the club ; as we have to him,” the club said.
“Nuno made it very clear that he is highly motivated for the challenge of guiding West Ham United back to the top flight at the first time of asking. That must be the unquestionable goal for next season.”
The club also referenced Nuno’s previous success in the Championship with Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he won the title in 2018 with a 99-point campaign.
West Ham acknowledged the disappointment of the season and admitted the club had fallen short of expectations.
“The club cannot shy away from the fact our season has not been good enough,” the statement added.
The Hammers have now suffered relegation for the first time since 2012, a setback expected to have major financial consequences. Club sources estimate the drop could cost around £200 million in lost revenue.
Those losses are likely to force significant player sales during the summer transfer window, with several key figures expected to attract interest from rival clubs. Among the names linked with possible departures are captain Jarrod Bowen and Portuguese midfielder Mateus Fernandes.
Nuno replaced Graham Potter earlier in the season after a difficult start to the campaign. Although West Ham ultimately failed to avoid relegation, the club believes there were encouraging signs during the final months of the season.
According to the statement, West Ham collected 25 points from their final 17 league matches, averaging 1.47 points per game ; a form record the club claims would have been enough for a seventh-place finish across a full Premier League season.
The board also pointed to improvements in squad mentality and togetherness as reasons for maintaining confidence in the manager.
“While the ultimate outcome on Sunday was a painful one, the board of directors believe that there have been broader signs of improvement and progress in recent months, and we want Nuno to continue developing that progress,” the club said.
Whether Nuno can replicate the success he achieved at Wolves remains to be seen, particularly given the financial pressures facing West Ham and the uncertainty surrounding several key players.
