West Ham United have earmarked a former Premier League manager to guide them through the Championship next season.
West Ham are set to experience life back in the EFL Championship, and Sporting Director Mark Noble is envisaging a managerial change ahead of the summer. As per a report by TEAMtalk, the Hammers have earmarked Scott Parker as an ideal candidate to guide them through their promotion push next season, with Noble pushing the idea.
West Ham United suffered relegation on the final day of the Premier League season despite beating Leeds United 3-0. A win for Tottenham in North London meant the fight for survival was out of the Hammers’ hands, and they are now preparing to play in the second division. Additionally, a managerial change is now imminent.
The East Londoners are expected to part company with Nuno Espirito Santo in the coming days, which will spark a fresh search for a replacement. Former Burnley boss Scott Parker has been earmarked as a target, having also been on their list last summer when they considered parting ways with Graham Potter.
Is Scott Parker the right fit for West Ham United?
Parker played the second-most number of games in his career for West Ham, and he has an emotional connection with the fans there. The 45-year-old formed a solid partnership in the middle of the park with current Sporting Director Mark Noble, with the latter now pushing to bring the former Tottenham playmaker back to East London as their next manager.
Parker does fit the bill with what West Ham are looking for, given his impeccable track record of helping teams gain promotion to the Premier League. The list includes Fulham, Bournemouth and Burnley, and the Hammers could view his expertise in that specific area as a big plus point in appointing the former Clarets boss in place of Nuno Espirito Santo.
Can West Ham bounce back?
The Hammers experienced a turbulent season in the top flight as they were dragged into the relegation scrap as early as January. However, an improved run of results and their solid home form in 2026 saw them go down only narrowly as they fought a fierce battle with Tottenham.
West Ham were about Nuno Espirito Santo for some time, back in January, and they were even linked with Slaven Bilic as a replacement. With the Portuguese coach now expected to leave, the idea of appointing Parker would be a masterstroke as the Hammers prepare for a promotion push, giving them a solid chance to bounce back and return to the top flight as early as the 2027/28 season.
