It has taken West Ham six months to come to their senses and sack Nuno Espírito Santo, but at least the decision has arrived early enough to revive their hopes of automatic promotion.

Dithering was no longer an option after the dismal performance against West Brom last Saturday.

West Ham, eighth in the Championship and four points off the top two, had to act after a second consecutive home defeat. They are in danger of slipping into a battle for a playoff spot and needed to move on from Nuno after just over a year of his confused, passive football.

Nuno did a terrible job after replacing Graham Potter as manager in September 2025. The 52-year-old had 33 games to save West Ham from relegation and failed. He has the most expensive squad in the Championship but his side have not lived up to their billing as title favourites and their stuttering form has exposed the folly of not sacking Nuno at the end of last season.

David Sullivan, then the club’s largest shareholder, wanted a change. But Daniel Kretinsky favoured continuity and looked to capitalise on the shifting power dynamics in the boardroom. Karren Brady had stepped down as vice-chair in April – Karim Virani replaced her in an interim role – and there was further upheaval when Sullivan resigned as joint-chair and a director of the club to fight what he described as “false allegations” regarding his personal conduct.

Sullivan bears most culpability for West Ham’s relegation. He still owns a 40% stake but is no longer on the board and West Ham are better off without him dictating key decisions. Equally, though, where Sullivan was not mistaken was in wanting Nuno gone. Kretinsky got his first big call wrong. At least the Czech billionaire has given Nuno’s replacement time to get the team back on track. The task falls to Scott Parker, who has been on the market since leaving Burnley last April. Parker is regarded as a “safe” appointment and has been on West Ham’s radar for a while.

Some wanted the former England midfielder in the summer and his name was mentioned again when West Ham failed to win their first three league games. Patience was wearing thin. A subsequent run of four wins in a row swiftly proved a false dawn.

West Ham have not had the right mindset. They have two wins from their past six games and have often started playing only after going a goal down. A 6-0 win against Wrexham was a highlight but victory at Lincoln by the same scoreline came with the caveat that the Imps received two red cards before half-time.

There was no identity under Nuno. West Ham are unbeaten on the road and won 1-0 at the then table-topping Swansea last month but it has been hard to tell Nuno broke the Football League transfer record with the £22m signing of the Belgium midfielder Arne Engels from Celtic. Even Jarrod Bowen, who was convinced to sign a new deal in the summer, has been off colour. Nuno’s tactics mean the winger, West Ham’s top scorer, is often crowded out.

West Ham were lopsided against West Brom. Enough was enough. Kretinsky, who is not at every game, was unimpressed when he attended West Ham’s 3-2 defeat by Southampton a week earlier. He pays attention to the views of Bowen, Tomas Soucek and Mark Noble, the technical director and former club captain.

Nuno, whose substitutions were almost as weird as his starting lineups, had lost the players. The mood darkened after the West Brom game. West Ham were easy to play through because of Nuno’s reluctance to use a holding midfielder, an issue exacerbated by his refusal to use Edson Álvarez or Soungoutou Magassa after both sought moves during the summer.

Magassa’s exile has caused disquiet. Not only is a young asset being devalued, a fragile defence is going without enough protection. West Ham have a lot of No 8s but they need a No 6. It is an area for Parker to address. He will also need to work out whether to stick with Mads Hermansen in goal, and the jury is out on summer signings.

One source questions whether West Ham targeted players equipped to handle the intensity of the Championship. Divine Mukasa, the 19-year-old midfielder, is talented but inconsistent. Manor Solomon and Edvin Austbø have flattered to deceive on the left wing. Joël Veltman, the 34-year-old Dutch right-back, has had fitness issues. Adama Boiro, a 24-year-old left‑back on loan from Athletic Bilbao, has not been seen since a cameo against Derby in early September. The three strikers signed by Nuno across two windows have toiled; Pablo Felipe, Taty Castellanos and Joël Piroe have five league goals between them this season.

Nils Koppen, the head of recruitment appointed in the summer, will have to be busy in January, but Parker will hope to have made his impact before the window opens. He is not known for expansive football but he is proven at this level. Parker won promotion with Bournemouth, Burnley and Fulham. The 46-year-old’s track record is clear and it helps that he has an association with West Ham.

Parker, whose all-action playing style made him a fan favourite, knows how difficult it can be in east London. He played in some pretty bad West Ham sides, experienced relegation in 2011 and arrives with the club in a tricky spot again.

It is not the moment to start worrying about Parker’s questionable record as a Premier League manager. What do West Ham do if they go up? Do they stick with Parker? Do they make an instant change? Well, how about they get promoted first? The rest can wait.