Nuno Espirito Santo has dropped a major hint over potential plans to reshape his West Ham coaching staff in the future.
The Hammers boss appears to have changes in mind behind the scenes as he looks to build a team that fully matches his philosophy and long-term vision after signing a three-year deal with West Ham.
Nuno Espirito Santo took everyone by surprise with a big announcement a few weeks after taking the West Ham job.
When Graham Potter was sacked by the Hammers, he was followed out of the London Stadium exit by his entire staff roster – which included two goalkeeper coaches.
Reporter quizzes Nuno on West Ham coaching staff
Nuno came in and was expected to be followed by a number of his own men who worked with him during his time at Nottingham Forest and previous clubs.
Initially, Nuno drafted in Academy coaches Mark Robson, Steve Potts, Gerard Prenderville and Billy Lepine to help out for games at Everton and Arsenal before the October international break.
But West Ham made a shock announcement that those promotions were permanent and Robson and co would remain part of the first team staff.
A senior club spokesman revealed to Hammers News that Nuno’s people from Forest wouldn’t be coming to West Ham.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Since then, though, Nuno has indeed brought in one of his long-time coaching assistants in Rui Barbosa, who he worked with at Rio Ave, Porto, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Tottenham Hotspur, Al-Ittihad and Forest.
While some West Ham fans have loved seeing the Academy coaches earn promotions to the first team under Nuno, others have questioned whether more top level expertise and coaching experience is required given the grave situation the team finds itself in this season.
There are several coaches the 51-year-old has worked with at Wolves, Spurs and Forest who it was anticipated would be joining him in east London.
It has been speculated that West Ham’s board reneged on an agreement to pay to bring in Nuno’s backroom team, forcing the decision to promote the Academy staff.
Nuno drops major hint about changes to West Ham staff
It has also been speculated that Nuno would still eventually be joined by some of his old coaching assistants in east London, as has happened with Barbosa.
Now Nuno himself has dropped a major hint about changes to the West Ham coaching staff.
One of the reporters in Nuno’s pre-Bournemouth press conference asked to clarify why his Forest staff had not joined the Portuguese at West Ham.
“Is there a reason, was it contracts?” the reporter put to Nuno.
While the Hammers boss played the question with a pretty straight bat, he appeared to leave the door open for changes by suggesting work was ongoing regarding the coaching team.
Photo by Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty ImagesCoaches who could join Nuno at West Ham
He insisted the promoted Academy coaches were ‘doing well’ but suggested they are helping out rather than all of them necessarily being long-term solutions.
“What I can tell you is we are working very hard and our coaching staff is doing well, is doing well,” Nuno said with a grin while tip-toeing around the contract question regarding his Forest staff.
“This is what is more important (than what is happening with his staff from Forest).
“Those that are here are being very helpful and I cannot thank them enough.”
Rui Pedro Silva, Julio Figueroa and Antonio Dias are other coaches who may join Nuno at West Ham eventually.
CoachRole under Nuno at ForestWhere they are nowRui Pedro SilvaAssistant coachStill Assistant Manager at Nottingham ForestJulio FigueroaAssistant coach / Sports psychologistExpected to join Nuno at West Ham as assistant coachRui BarbosaGoalkeeping coach. Long-time Nuno collaboratorHas joined Nuno at West Ham in the same roleAntónio DiasFitness coach / conditioning coachWas expected to join Nuno at West Ham but his current situation is unclear What will be the result of Bournemouth vs West Ham?