Nuno was relieved of his duties on Tuesday after back-to-back home defeats against Southampton and West Brom left the Hammers eighth in the table. Saturday’s 3-1 loss to West Brom proved to be his final match in charge.
The club confirmed that assistant head coach Rui Pedro Silva and goalkeeper coach Rui Barbosa had also left, while a search for a new manager was already under way.
“Following a thorough review of the start to the EFL Championship season, the Board of Directors believe that a change is necessary at this time in order to ensure that the Club’s objectives and expectations remain on track,” West Ham said in a statement.
The club added that Mark Noble, Steve Potts and Gerard Prenderville would oversee preparations for Wednesday’s trip to Cardiff, and said it would make no further comment until a new head coach had been appointed.
Nuno had taken charge in September 2025 after replacing Graham Potter, but could not prevent West Ham’s relegation from the Premier League. He remained in the role for the club’s attempt to secure an immediate return, although six wins from the opening 13 league games left them four points short of the automatic promotion places.
Parker has emerged as the frontrunner, with discussions understood to be at an advanced stage. The former West Ham midfielder has been out of work since leaving Burnley following their relegation from the Premier League last season.
The 46-year-old has a strong record of winning promotion from the Championship, having taken Fulham, Bournemouth and Burnley into the top flight. A fourth such achievement would be the immediate priority if he takes charge at the London Stadium.
Parker also has a strong connection with the club. He spent four years at West Ham between 2007 and 2011, making 129 appearances and captaining the side. He was named the club’s Player of the Year in each of his final three seasons.
West Ham United had invested heavily in their squad during the summer, including breaking the Championship transfer record to sign Arne Engels from Celtic. The expectation was an immediate promotion challenge, but the recent run of results prompted the board to act.
Parker’s appointment has not yet been officially confirmed by West Ham. For now, Noble and the interim group will prepare the team for Cardiff as the club moves towards a decision on Nuno’s successor.