West Ham manager Nuno Espírito Santo is facing mounting pressure following a difficult start to the Championship campaign. The team has struggled to justify its status as promotion favourites, dropping to eighth in the standings after a 3-1 defeat to West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.
Promotion Push in Jeopardy
West Ham are targeting an immediate return to the top flight after failing to avoid relegation last term under Nuno. The latest setback has hampered their promotion aspirations, leaving them in the final playoff position following back-to-back home losses and four points adrift of second-placed Swansea. While the manager is expected to be given an opportunity to reverse the team’s fortunes, influential figures within the club are losing patience. During the fixture against West Brom, Nuno also encountered discontent from the supporters.
Initial expectations suggested Nuno would depart following last season’s relegation. Reports indicated that David Sullivan, who was the club’s largest shareholder at the time, sought to dismiss the former Nottingham Forest manager, whereas Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky supported continuity.
Sullivan subsequently stepped down as joint-chair and director to address personal allegations. In September, Kretinsky became the majority shareholder with a 46% stake, while Sullivan increased his holding to 40% while remaining off the board.
Board Decisions and Squad Performance
Any determination regarding Nuno’s position will be made collectively by the board, including interim CEO Karim Virani and director of recruitment Nils Koppen. With only two victories in their last six matches, West Ham travel to Cardiff City on Wednesday and Nuno risks severe scrutiny if results do not improve before the upcoming international break.
The club appointed Nuno following the dismissal of Graham Potter in September 2025. The 52-year-old manager’s tactics and acquisitions failed to convince supporters last season, and those issues have persisted in the Championship. Following relegation, West Ham transferred Crysencio Summerville and Mateus Fernandes while retaining Jarrod Bowen and Tomas Soucek, alongside setting a new EFL transfer record by signing Arne Engels from Celtic for £22m.
Sentiment inside the club indicates belief that the squad is the strongest in the division and should perform at a higher level. However, Nuno has found it difficult to establish a consistent starting lineup. West Ham have managed only three clean sheets in 13 matches and have conceded the opening goal on six occasions due to slow starts.
The club’s forwards—Joel Piroe, Pablo Felipe, and Taty Castellanos—were all signed during Nuno’s tenure and have combined for five league goals this term. Although Bowen leads the scoring with seven goals, the team lacks a defined tactical identity and midfield balance, with defensive midfielders Soungoutou Magassa and Edson Alvarez currently out of the team.
Club officials maintain hope that Nuno can guide the squad up the standings. Positive moments have included 6-0 victories against Wrexham and Lincoln, though Lincoln played with nine men for part of the match. Their strongest display of the season remains a 1-0 away victory over Swansea, indicating the team performs more effectively when facing less expectation to control possession.
