Nuno dealt off-pitch West Ham blow ahead of Championship season | OneFootball

The Hammers boss will be on the lookout for a new assistant manager this summer

West Ham head coach Nuno Espirito Santo will have a lot on his plate this summer to prepare his club for their first Championship campaign in 15 years, but alongside changes on the field, there looks to be some in the dugout, too.

The Hammers' 14-year stay in the Premier League came to an end last season, despite a spirited second half of the campaign from the London Stadium-based side.

West Ham's disastrous opening half of the term under Graham Potter, which bled into the first couple of months of Nuno's reign, ultimately gave them too much to do in the second half of the season.

After 21 games, Nuno's side were seven points adrift of safety, having recently become the first team to lose to Wolves and also tasting defeat at home in a relegation six-pointer against Nottingham Forest. They followed that up with a nervy FA Cup win in extra time against Championship opposition, QPR.

After that cup success, though, West Ham announced the arrival of former Rayo Vallecano, Cruz Azul and Ibiza boss Paco Jemez as the new first-team coach.

Results improved immediately, with the Hammers winning three of their next four league games, doubling their win tally from the first 21. But despite them picking up the sixth-most points in the top-flight after his hiring, West Ham would still succumb to relegation on the final day.

West Ham issued a blow as Paco Jemez is on the hunt for managerial role

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The former Spanish international was brought in on a short-term contract until the end of the season to help out former Deportivo teammate Nuno in the dugout.

With how well the team performed with Jemez on the coaching staff, there was some hope that the 56-year-old could remain in Nuno's backroom team ahead of their Championship return, as it would give West Ham's promotion credentials a big boost.

However, that doesn't seem to be a role that Jemez is open to taking on long-term. With over 500 games as the main man in the dugout in a managerial career that has spanned 19 years, the Spaniard is, understandably, keen on returning to being a head coach this summer.

Speaking to FlashScore.pt, Jemez was asked about what his next role will entail, and whether he's looking for a head coach or a deputy role.

"No, the deputy was something punctual [temporary] that I did. I did this with Nuno, in a short and very motivating situation, to be able to know the Premier League inside. That doesn't mean I couldn't do it again, but from the start, I am looking for a project as a head coach," he said.

It's not the most promising news for West Ham fans to hear, as there was some optimism that, with Nuno staying at the club ahead of their Championship return, Jemez would be open to continuing his time helping out the Portuguese boss.

But, after his admission, it seems that it won't just be new players that Nuno will be looking to bring to the club this summer.

How West Ham fans have reacted to Paco Jemez's interview

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Understandably, the decision by Jemez to initially turn down the prospect of returning to West Ham as an assistant has generated some mixed reactions online.

Prevalent Hammers X account 'West Ham Central,' described the news as "not promising," and some fellow West Ham supporters have expressed their thoughts in their replies.

"He is a head coach in his own right, he's not going to be an assistant forever," and "He's a maverick. He wants to be a head coach. He's playing the game, trying to drum up some interest," were among the replies, indicating that some fans are accepting of his decision.

The overarching feeling, however, was doubt at Nuno's abilities without Jemez at his side. West Ham won just two of their 16 league games under the Portuguese boss before his former teammate was added to the coaching staff, picking up just four more points than Wolves.

"Not sure if I like the idea of a Nuno without Paco based on last season's performances," one fan wrote. Another even urged West Ham to "sack Nuno and trust Paco." Evidently, some fans feel that West Ham's upturn in form was solely down to him.

It's been a decade since Jemez's four-year stint at Rayo Vallecano, and since then, he's bounced around different sides in Spain and Mexico. Arguably, he may not be suited to coming in and immediately becoming the number one ahead of a gruelling Championship campaign.

But, if Nuno's successes at the London Stadium were down to the Spanish head coach, then West Ham will need to get their replacement spot on to ensure that they're in the best position to get back into the Premier League at the first attempt.