West Ham United senior management confirmed on Monday that manager Nuno Espirito Santo will remain in his position to lead the club in the Championship following their recent relegation from the Premier League.
The decision came after both parties met to discuss the future, opting to continue their partnership despite a clause allowing them to sever ties without financial compensation, according to a report by the BBC.
Club Backs Nuno for Promotion Push
Club officials are banking on Nuno to replicate his 2018 success with Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he secured 99 points to win the second-tier title.
"We are pleased to confirm he has expressed his continued commitment to the club – as we have to him," wrote the club in an open letter to supporters.
The board noted that the Portuguese manager is determined to achieve immediate promotion back to the top division next season.
"Nuno made it very clear that he is highly motivated for the challenge of guiding West Ham United back to the top flight at the first time of asking.
That must be the unquestionable goal for next season," the club said.
The team is playing in the Championship for the first time since 2012, prompting the hierarchy to acknowledge the shortcomings of the previous campaign.
"Nuno has spent one previous year in the Championship and it was an outstanding success as he secured 99 points to win the title with Wolverhampton Wanderers," the club said.
The relegation is estimated by club sources to cost West Ham £200m in lost revenue, following a reported loss of over £100m in their latest financial accounts.
"While the ultimate outcome on Sunday was a painful one, the board of directors believe that there have been broader signs of improvement and progress in recent months, and we want Nuno to continue developing that progress," the club said.
The hierarchy pointed to statistical improvements under Nuno, who took over in September after Graham Potter was dismissed, as a key reason for their confidence.
"A total of 25 points taken from our final 17 Premier League matches equated to 1.47 points per game – a ratio that would have resulted in a 7th place finish across the total season.
Furthermore, we feel the clear improvement in squad mentality and togetherness since January, leading to that upturn in performances and results, makes him the right man to lead us forward," the club said.
Financial strains mean the club will likely sell key players, with skipper Jarrod Bowen and midfielder Mateus Fernandes attracting interest, while Roma is targeting winger Crysencio Summerville, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.
"For every single person who is passionate about the club, it (relegation) hurts deeply and that feeling will sustain for some time," said West Ham.
The club also addressed fan frustration regarding the 2016 move to the London Stadium and the recent departure of vice-chair Karren Brady due to supporter abuse.
"The board must now review every aspect of the club's operation to ensure that when we return to the Premier League – hopefully in August 2027 - we are a better West Ham United in every way, on and off the pitch," West Ham said.
To repair the relationship with its fanbase, the board announced ticket price adjustments for the upcoming season.
"We know we must also take steps to repair the club's relationship with its fanbase.
We want West Ham United to be a club that listens to all of our supporters and communicates with them in a clear and transparent way," West Ham said.
The leadership promised to act directly on supporter feedback to rebuild trust with the community.
"We are committed to taking supporter feedback on board, and backing that up with real, significant actions - starting with reductions of up to 30% across all season ticket prices for next season," West Ham said.
Prior to confirming Nuno would stay, West Ham had looked at former Burnley manager Scott Parker and Strasbourg's Gary O'Neil as potential replacements, according to the Guardian.
