A run of four successive wins in the first half of September, in which they scored 16 goals and went top of the table, appeared to show they had adapted to the second tier. A 6-0 win over Wrexham was the highlight. Among the summer arrivals, Engels had three assists and no goals in 12 games. Austbo had scored twice and provided two assists after starting only two league matches.
Having posted losses of more than £104m, relegation forced West Ham to sell players over the summer. The squad was still seen as capable of turning the season around under a new manager.
The Hammers had just come through a run against teams in good form and high in the table. Losses in two of those games, both at home, proved costly for Nuno.
West Ham’s hierarchy felt Parker understood the club and its culture and was someone supporters could get behind. He also brought Championship promotion experience.
West Ham wanted promotion hopes back on track and were wasting no time in getting a deal for Parker done.
Form then faded. Two wins in six dropped West Ham to eighth, four points off second-placed Swansea in the final automatic promotion place.
The campaign had a troubled start. West Ham failed to win any of their first three league matches and sat 19th.
Nuno had taken over from Graham Potter in September 2025. He struggled to get his ideas across. Critics of his tenure said his tactics were poor, team selections confusing and signings had not worked out.