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 Championship, as the Sporting Director envisages a managerial change ahead of the summer. As per Team Talk, The Hammers have earmarked former Burnley boss Scott Parker as an ideal candidate to guide them through their promotion push next season, with Sporting Director Mark Noble pushing the idea.
West Ham United suffered relegation on the final day of the Premier League season despite winning against Leeds United. A win for Tottenham in north London meant the fight for survival was out of the Hammers’ reach, as the club now prepares for life in the Championship, with a managerial change now seeming imminent.
The Londoners are expected to part company with Nuno Espirito Santo in the coming period, which will spark a fresh search for a replacement. Former Burnley boss and 45-year-old former Tottenham playmaker Scott Parker has been earmarked, having also been on their list last summer as they pondered 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 has an emotional connection with the fans there. He formed a solid partnership in midfield with current club Sporting Director Mark Noble, with the latter now pushing to bring the 45-year-old former Tottenham playmaker back to the London Stadium as their next manager.
Parker does fit the bill in 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 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.
They had been unsure about Espirito Santo for some time — back in January, the Hammers were linked with Slaven Bilic as a replacement. With the experienced coach now expected to leave, the idea of appointing Parker would be a masterstroke as far as the Hammers’ promotion push is concerned, giving them a solid chance to bounce back and return to the top flight as soon as the 2027-28 season.