As reported earlier on C&H West Ham United have made a decisive managerial change just five games into the 2025/26 Premier League season, sacking head coach Graham Potter and his entire backroom staff following a string of poor performances. The club have moved swiftly to appoint former Wolves and Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo as his replacement.
A senior source has confirmed that a deal has 99% been concluded.
Appointed in January 2025 to replace Julen Lopetegui, Potter arrived with hopes of stabilising the Hammers. However, his reign was marred by inconsistency and defensive frailty. West Ham won just six of Potter’s 25 matches in charge, with five draws and 14 defeats. This season began disastrously, with four losses in five games, including heavy defeats to Chelsea and Tottenham, and an early Carabao Cup exit.
Potter struggled at West Ham
West Ham exodus as Potter’s reign ends
The club’s statement cited that “results and performances over the course of the second half of last season and the start of the 2025/26 season have not matched expectations.” Alongside Potter, assistant coach Bruno Saltor, first team coaches Billy Reid and Narcis Pelach, and goalkeeper coaches Casper Ankergren and Linus Kandolin were also dismissed.
Kyle Macaulay, was not mentioned in the list of departures yet C&H reported last week that he will also be leaving West Ham. The club paid £1m to Chelsea for his services, Max Hahn will lead on data analytics.
West Ham have wasted no time in lining up a successor to Potter. Nuno Espirito Santo, recently let go by Nottingham Forest, has agreed personal terms and is expected to take charge immediately, potentially debuting in Monday’s clash against Everton.
Nuno has been appointed new Hammers head coach
Nuno brings Premier League experience and a reputation for defensive organisation—something West Ham desperately needs after conceding the most goals from set pieces this season. His previous sides, particularly Forest, were notably resilient in dead-ball situations, a glaring weakness under Potter.
With the club languishing near the bottom of the table and fan frustration mounting, the board hopes Nuno can inject discipline and tactical clarity. His appointment marks a return to the Premier League just weeks after his departure from Forest, and he’ll be tasked with steering the Hammers away from relegation danger.
As West Ham turns the page, supporters will be watching closely to see if Nuno can revive a squad that has underperformed for months. The pressure is immediate, and the expectations are clear: stabilise the defence, restore confidence, and climb the table.
We paid £1m in compensation for McCauley and should keep him on board, if Potter gets another role can get the compensation money back, McCauley has performed unlike Potter so can’t see the sense in paying him off, Chelsea didn’t either.
Letting Macaulay go is throwing the baby out with the bathwater, every player he identified was better than anything Sullivan, Salthouse, Brady or Steidten recommended.
Maybe he’d had a call long before.
Writing was as on the wall for him as it was for Potter when we played Forest.
A gift of 3 points and +3 GD ready for when he assumed his position as head coach.
And the masses think S&B are clueless…….it was a masterstroke of epic proportions!😆
If Sullivan really was dissatisfied with the way recruitment was being done or not done over the summer, this is hardly surprising.
How much difference is any new manager going to make though?
Brady and Sullivan have to go..if they think sacking Potter will stop the protests they are badly informed…for our club to progress they both have to go.