West Ham have dismissed Graham Potter following a disappointing start to the campaign and are preparing to name Nuno Espirito Santo as their new manager. The club hopes to have the former Nottingham Forest boss in place before Monday’s crucial Premier League fixture against Everton.
Potter’s departure was confirmed on Saturday morning after just eight months at the helm, with the Hammers languishing in 19th place. Under his leadership, they managed only three points from their opening five league matches.
In a statement, West Ham said they believed “a change is necessary in order to help improve the team’s position in the Premier League as soon as possible.” They added: “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.”
Potter’s Tenure Fails to Inspire
Despite holding “positive talks” earlier in the week, Potter, 50, was relieved of his duties just two days after expressing confidence he still had the board’s backing. The 2-1 home defeat against Crystal Palace — their fifth loss in six matches across all competitions — appears to have been the final straw.
Potter, who took over from Julen Lopetegui in January, struggled to bring consistency to the side. West Ham ended last season 14th, and their struggles deepened in the new campaign. Despite selling star forward Mohammed Kudus to Tottenham for £55m and investing £126m in eight new players, including Portuguese midfielder Mateus Fernandes for £38m, results did not improve. Losses against Sunderland, Chelsea, Tottenham, and Palace left them in the relegation zone.
Discontent among supporters also grew, culminating in protests against the board before the Palace match. Potter even became the subject of online mockery, with users using AI to place his face on celebrities. Speaking about the jokes, Potter said, “It made my 15-year-old son laugh a lot, so you have to accept what comes with it. At times [that is] ridicule, but that is just the environment we are in and it is what it is.”
Nuno Poised for Premier League Return
West Ham have moved quickly to find a replacement, with Nuno Espirito Santo expected to sign before the Everton clash. The Portuguese coach, 51, was dismissed by Nottingham Forest earlier this season despite a successful previous campaign in which he guided them to seventh and European qualification for the first time since 1994-95.
However, his relationship with Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis deteriorated in the latter stages of his tenure. A disappointing run of eight points from their final eight matches saw the club slip out of Champions League contention. Nuno was also critical of the club’s transfer dealings, despite spending £196m on 13 new players, saying Forest had “wasted a good chance.”
Tensions escalated further when Marinakis appeared to confront Nuno after a 2-2 draw with Leicester in May, though the club denied any incident. Forest began the current season with four points from their first two matches but a 3-0 home defeat to West Ham ended his spell in charge.
Why West Ham Turned to Nuno
Former Wales captain Ashley Williams believes Nuno’s approach suits West Ham’s current situation. “For the West Ham fans and the club, they want to see a hard-working team and a bit more bravery in possession,” he told Football Focus.
“Under Potter, it was flat – there was nothing for the fans to get behind. Nuno can galvanise the club and he is the perfect person of the available managers to put in there.
“West Ham have been so easy to play against. You only have to get out of second gear to beat them. Nuno will organise his team and figure out what players he wants and what players he can work with.”
Board Looks Ahead
Potter won just six of his 25 matches in charge. In a farewell statement, the club said: “The board would like to thank Graham and his coaching staff for their hard work during their time with the Hammers and wish them every success for the future.”
The club confirmed that the recruitment process for a new manager is underway and that no further updates would be provided for now.
This will be West Ham’s third managerial appointment in less than two years. After David Moyes ended the club’s 43-year trophy drought by winning the Europa Conference League in 2023, they have struggled to maintain momentum. The board now hopes Nuno can bring much-needed structure, improve results, and steer the team away from relegation danger.
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