Scott Parker is expected to become West Ham United's next manager, the BBC reported. The club sacked Nuno Espirito Santo on Tuesday after a disappointing start to their first season back in the Championship. Two former West Ham players have publicly backed Parker for the job.
West Ham were widely seen as favourites for automatic promotion after relegation from the Premier League last season. Instead, they are eighth in the Championship, six points behind leaders Middlesbrough. They have won two of their last six games. They have also lost two home matches in a row, 3-2 to Southampton and then 3-1 to West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.
Parker, 46, was named West Ham's player of the year three times. As a manager, he has led Fulham, Bournemouth and Burnley to promotion. Former goalkeeper Rob Green, a former team-mate, said this "proven record" made Parker the perfect fit. Speaking to BBC Radio London, Green said critics might call Parker's style unimaginative. He said Parker would reply that his teams know exactly what they need to do to win promotion.
Green said the squad still had enough quality to go up. In his view, the club should win promotion, stay in the Premier League and only then worry about style. He said that handing Parker West Ham's talented front line "makes perfect sense".
Another former West Ham player, John Moncur, also backed Parker. He told BBC Radio London that Parker had done a good job at other clubs and knows West Ham inside out. Moncur also said the club let David Moyes go too hastily. He believes West Ham would not be in this position if Moyes had stayed.
Moncur said West Ham fans are well informed and cannot be fooled, and that Parker will know this. He said the key is getting the balance right, because lovely football is no good without wins.
Nuno's sacking means West Ham are now looking for their fourth permanent manager since Moyes left the London Stadium in May 2024.