West Ham United have announced the sacking of Graham Potter with immediate effect – and the club has also axed five members of his coaching team and with a favourite to succeed him in the job quickly emerging.
The Hammers have endured a wretched start to the season, losing four of five games so sit 19th in the Premier League table. Having conceded 13 goals in that time – the worst in the Premier League – Potter has come under intense speculation over the past fortnight.
Now the West Ham board have on Saturday morning confirmed that the axe has fallen – with five of Potter’s coaching team also relieved of their duties at the same time.
In a short statement, the club confirmed on their official website: “West Ham United can confirm that Head Coach Graham Potter has left the Club.
“Results and performances over the course of the second half of last season and the start of the 2025/26 season have not matched expectations, and the Board of Directors believe that a change is necessary in order to help improve the team’s position in the Premier League as soon as possible.
“The Club can confirm that Assistant Coach Bruno Saltor, First Team Coaches Billy Reid and Narcis Pelach, Lead Goalkeeper Coach Casper Ankergren, and Goalkeeper Coach Linus Kandolin have also left with immediate effect.
“The Board would like to thank Graham and his coaching staff for their hard work during their time with the Hammers and wish them every success for the future.
“The process of appointing a replacement is underway. The Club will be making no further comment at this time.”
West Ham consider Potter replacements as one candidate is ruled out
As West Ham explain, the club are now carefully considering the successor to Potter as they plot their bid to pull clear of relegation danger.
There is no announcement as of yet as to who to will lead the side into Monday’s clash against Everton at the Hill-Dickinson Stadium on Monday evening.
However, TEAMtalk can confirm that the Hammers board have already held discussions with a number of potential candidates for the job.
And we have been told that any candidate may have to be open-minded about taking the role short-term, initially.
That could suit Slaven Bilic more than Nuno Espirito Santo – both in the frame for the vacancy – as initial indications from insiders suggest that the conditions around landing the former Nottingham Forest boss are tricky…
Nuno feels in a strong position in terms of negotiating his next contract in club management after his spell at Nottingham Forest progressed so well, and was ultimately only ended because of internal politics.
Taking him on would mean West Ham have to contemplate giving him a bigger contract than the one Potter is currently on – and he would be seeking a longer-term commitment than just the end of the season.
The Hammers are hesitant to go ahead with that option at this moment and are considering who else could potentially replace Potter.
If West Ham do go with the short-term option, then it is likely they may need to turn to Bilic.
As we understand, the former Hammers favourite is to return to the job.
One man who is not under consideration, however, is Kieran McKenna, who has 83 wins in charge of Ipswich Town.