All change within West Ham’s coaching set up this week.
One name that has been mentioned by supporters since Scott Parker’s arrival, yet seems missing from the Hammers new – look post Nuno back room team is Mark Robson, with questions asked as to whether he would be involved within the new coaching set up as part of Parkers’s team.
However, there is an important detail that has largely gone under the radar.
While Robson has remained part of West Ham’s coaching structure, he actually returned to his role as the Academy of Football’s Senior Professional Development Phase Coach and Under-21s Lead Coach in the summer of 2026.
Robson did work with Nuno upon the Portuguese manager’s arrival from Nottingham Forest
According to the club, this was the same position he had previously held before stepping into first-team coaching roles. His move back to the Academy coincided with changes behind the scenes following Nuno’s decision to reshape his coaching staff in the summer, including the addition of Rui Pedro Silva, who departed earlier in the week alongside Nuno and Rui Barbosa.
When Scott Parker arrived, he too preferred to work with trusted personnel, bringing long-time colleague Jonathan Hill in as Assistant Head Coach. Yet Robson’s return to the Under-21s should never be viewed as a demotion.
If anything, it reflects where West Ham believe his greatest strengths lie.
The Upton Park-born coach is regarded as one of the most respected development coaches in English football. After a playing career that included helping West Ham secure promotion to the Premier League in 1992/93, Robson built an impressive coaching CV across both youth and senior football.
His biography confirms that he worked with Charlton Athletic’s academy and first team, held coaching roles at Gillingham, Peterborough United and Barnet, became an FA Youth Coach Educator, and later spent several years coaching within England’s youth international set-up. He also worked at Norwich City and Aston Villa before returning to West Ham in 2021.
Perhaps most significantly, much of that career has been centred on one thing, developing young players.
West Ham’s Academy has long prided itself on producing talent capable of making the jump into the first team. In that environment, Robson’s expertise is arguably more valuable than almost any role he could occupy elsewhere within the football club.
The situation is also not entirely new. Robson similarly returned to the Under-21s in 2024 after spending the 2023/24 campaign working within the first-team coaching set-up.
West Ham have repeatedly shown a willingness to move him between senior and academy football depending on where they feel his knowledge can have the greatest impact.
Rather than being overlooked by successive managers, Robson has become a specialist resource for the club.
With suggestions that West Ham will continue to place significant importance on producing homegrown talent, keeping one of England’s most highly regarded youth coaches with the Under-21s may be just as important as any appointment made alongside Parker in the first-team dugout.
I was suggesting Mark Robson as an interim manager till end of season, because he obviously gets on with this players and he has them playing quick, effective football that is good to watch. The 2nd half of WHU against Cardiff with the ball moved quickly forwards with sharp passes, reminded me of the U21 style of play.
Still think there is a need to look after ex-U21s who are around the 1st team because they still need one on one coaching, to concentrate on their weaknesses. Just a few hours a week, or individual work with a 1st team player who looks after them, or an advanced academy abroad.
I look at a player such as Fearon (he is not the only one) and I think you have the type of player who with 2-3 seasons on loan and a good club (Como with Fabregas – ain’t going to happen, but..) he would come back a very accomplished and well rounded player who would be a real asset to the club. Same for all the ex-academy lads already in the squad.
Depends on manager’s approach, coaches & Koppen, plus whoever looks after loans/ongoing ex-U21 development but important phase in their development.
Not a demotion for Mark Robson, absolutely. Working with youngsters might be what he prefers as well. A lot to do, to work on and hone. also rewarding.