West Ham board want Nuno Espirito Santo to stay even if the club is relegated | OneFootball

West Ham United want Nuno Espirito Santo to remain as manager beyond this season, even if the club are relegated from the Premier League.

The club’s hierarchy are reportedly supportive of Nuno’s work since his appointment last September and are open to him leading a rebuild in the Championship if survival is not achieved.

However, the final decision may rest with the manager.

Nuno’s current contract includes a clause that allows either party to terminate the agreement without compensation in the event of relegation, despite two years remaining on the deal.

The 52-year-old has not indicated whether he would be willing to stay if West Ham drop into the second tier.

His immediate focus remains on securing survival during the final weeks of the campaign.

Nuno took charge at a difficult moment in the season, replacing Graham Potter with the club already entrenched in the relegation zone after a poor start.

Results remained inconsistent early in his tenure, and his position came under scrutiny during a critical run of fixtures in January.

A 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur was a turning point, easing immediate pressure and allowing Nuno to oversee key transfer decisions aimed at improving the squad.

West Ham invested heavily in attacking reinforcements, although only Taty Castellanos has made a consistent impact since arriving from Lazio.

Despite the mixed success of those signings, there have been signs of progress in recent performances.

The team briefly moved out of the bottom three after closing a significant gap on Tottenham, but results elsewhere and a heavy defeat to Brentford have dropped them back into the relegation places.

West Ham are 18th in the table with only a handful of games remaining, although their recent run of form suggests they are still capable of competing.

They have collected 22 points from their last 14 league matches, even if a lack of goals on the road remains a concern.

The club is also undergoing change off the pitch, including the departure of vice-chairman Karren Brady, which adds another layer of uncertainty to their long-term planning.

Nuno’s influence has grown in recent months, supported by the arrival of first-team coach Paco Jemez, and there is a belief internally that he has begun to implement a clearer identity.

West Ham face a decisive run-in, including fixtures against Arsenal and Newcastle United, before concluding the season at home to Leeds United.

Relegation would bring financial implications, including wage reductions for players and staff, which could influence Nuno’s decision on his future.