West Ham make decision over Graham Potter replacement after confirming sacking

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TBR Football understands Nuno Espirito Santo will be the next head coach of West Ham United.

Graham Potter was sacked on Saturday morning after winning just six of his 25 games in charge, and the club have moved quickly to secure his replacement.

As reported by TBR Football, talks were ongoing this week with Nuno, the former Nottingham Forest boss, and Slaven Bilic, who took charge of West Ham between 2015 and 2017.

But it is Nuno Espirito Santo who will replace Potter in the hot seat at the London Stadium, and he is expected to be in charge for the Premier League trip to Everton on Monday.

Exclusive: Nuno has already agreed West Ham terms

Despite Potter taking his usual pre-match press conference on Friday, the decision to sack him was made on the same day, sources have told TBR Football’s chief correspondent, Graeme Bailey.

Bailey said: “I am told David Sullivan made his decision on Friday having come back from Spain. He decided that Nuno was the right man for the role, so why wait?

“Terms were already agreed in principle and now Nuno has agreed to take the job – West Ham believe that they had to move for Nuno now before he was snapped up by another club, and there was already interest.”

Talks were held with Slaven Bilic, who was considered a frontrunner for the job, but other options were explored, including Gary O’Neil, as the club geared up to part company with Potter.

That decision was rubberstamped in an official statement released on Saturday, in which the Hammers admitted results had “not matched expectations” this season.

Potter’s backroom team have also departed with immediate effect, including assistant coach Bruno Saltor and first-team coaches Billy Reid and Narcis Pelach.

West Ham’s form before Graham Potter sacking

During his final press conference in charge, Potter had insisted his talks with the club’s hierarchy were positive and focused on how his side could improve after winning just one of their first five league games.

“If results aren’t good, which they haven’t been, then there is always speculation, noise and negativity,” Potter told reporters. “Nobody is happy with where we are at but at the same time you have to look at the context and not get caught in the noise.”

West Ham’s opening day defeat against Sunderland set the tone for a miserable start to the campaign, before they shipped five goals against Chelsea and a further three against Tottenham.

Potter’s last match proved to be a 2-1 home loss against Crystal Palace last weekend.