The fact that there are a couple of managers without a club right now, managers with a fine track record in the Championship, means questions over Nuno Espirito Santo’s West Ham United future are only ever a few dropped points away.

Take, for instance, the reaction to Saturday’s 3-2 home defeat by Southampton. Nuno faced criticism both from the media and the fans after West Ham United slipped to third in the Championship table.

At the start of the summer, before Daniel Kretinsky threw his weight behind a man who guided Wolves to the title in 2018, Craig Bellamy was a popular option among many of Hammers News’ TalkingPoints users. That does not appear to have changed, even if the former striker remains under contract with Wales.

Scott Parker, promoted out of this league as many times as he won the Hammer of the Year award [three, if you were wondering], is currently unemployed. Parker’s tally of three promotions puts him joint-second in the all-time list, alongside Leeds boss Daniel Farke.

Kieran McKenna is only one behind with two. And there are some who believe – for very good reasons – that the Ipswich Town icon would stand a solid chance to adding a third promotion to his collection if he was to take over from Nuno in East London.

Kieran McKenna would surely be a popular West Ham United appointment

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antonymmartin84

You know who I would absolutely love, Kieran McKenna. The style of play would be miles better and I think he’d be better at developing a connection between himself, players and fans

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McKenna famously led Ipswich from the bottom half of League One to the top-flight in the space of three years, ending The Tractor Boys’ two-decade exile.

His Ipswich side played some of the most fluid, free-scoring, tactically adept football in the country. The likes of Leif Davis, Liam Delap and now-AC Milan winger Omari Hutchinson blossoming under his stewardship.

“His mind is just incredible,” said now-Preston defender Harry Clarke. “He’s a genius.”

Ipswich didn’t quite have the quality to survive back in the big time, relegated despite picking up famous wins over Tottenham and Chelsea. In 2024/25, though, McKenna repeated the trick. Ipswich, en route to becoming a modern ‘yo-yo club’, were promoted again.

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nickdomjan

There are other considerations, can Nuno attract the level of players we want or would McKenna for example have more gravitas, The value of our exiled players is reducing by their exclusion, so I see that it isn’t just on the pitch where we are suffering. I can see the blame culture developing which nobody wants

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When the conversation turns towards who could potentially replace Nuno – although Hammers News have been told that Kretinsky remains fully supportive in the current head coach – the same names usually appear.

Parker, Bellamy, even Michael Carrick and Eddie Howe. Rob Edwards was linked a few days ago, albeit we can confirm that won’t be happening.

Kieran McKenna, though, has so many of the attributes a fretting fanbase would be looking for. Past success in promotion races, a fine record at developing youth, and a commitment to exciting, attacking football. That he is currently without a job also helps.

Nuno is under no immediate threat right now. Though that could change if West Ham fail to record at least seven points from their next three matches – West Brom, Cardiff and Blackburn – before the international break gives Kretinsky time to think.