Another clause in the contract of West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo has been revealed and it will be a major worry for fans.
Like most subjects at West Ham, head coach Nuno Espirito Santo has divided opinion among fans.
That was even the case with David Moyes, the most successful manager in West Ham’s modern history.
Nuno has been at West Ham just over four months and its has been a rollercoaster.
The Hammers did not get any instant new manager bounce when Nuno inherited a mess from Graham Potter.
The only real bright spot from his first three months in charge was back-to-back wins in November.
Nuno’s struggle to convince in first five months at West Ham
West Ham went on a dismal 10-game winless run and lost many games to direct rivals which left them cut adrift in the relegation zone.
A 3-0 defeat to Wolves, on course to be the worst team in Premier League history, was a real low point for Nuno and the club.
MORE WEST HAM STORIES
Be honest; how would YOU feel if West Ham swapped Nuno for Thomas Frank?
The Spurs boss has come in for huge criticism…
Thomas Frank of Tottenham Hotspur looks on during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villaon January 10, 2026 in London, England.
The Portuguese’s team selections and tactics have been questioned and criticised by many Hammers fans.
That was the case again last week when West Ham led 2-0 at half-time away to Chelsea only to collapse and lose 3-2 when Nuno went defensive in the second half.
However, the Hammers – and Nuno – bounced back away at Burnley on Saturday.
Nuno Espirito Santo on the touchline during Burnley vs West Ham.
Photo by Kate McShane/Getty Images
West Ham should be sitting level on points with 17th-placed Nottingham Forest off the back of a five-game winning run.
But the surrender to Chelsea means that defeat has been sandwiched by four crucial wins which have breathed new life into West Ham’s bid to stay in the Premier League.
Nuno made some huge calls in the 2-0 win at Turf Moor.
Dropping Alphonse Areola for Mads Hermansen for an absolute must-win game, bringing in new signing Axel Disasi for his debut despite the French centre-back not having played any competitive football since April and starting Callum Wilson ahead of Pablo.
All eyes were on whether Nuno would start flop Max Kilman ahead of Disasi as Jean-Clair Todibo served the first of his three-game suspension.
So it took real bravery from Nuno to make such a major call given Disasi’s lack of match fitness and practice.
Second clause in Nuno’s West Ham contract now a major worry
The victory has put West Ham within three points of Forest with 13 games to play.
After the Chelsea collapse, all the talk was about whether West Ham should sack Nuno if they go down.
Three big calls from Nuno!
What do you make of Hermansen and Wilson coming in?
Mads Hermansen is the goalkeeper of West Ham United during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between West Ham United and Queens Park Rangers at the London Stadium in Stratford, England, on January 11, 2026.
It was revealed that Nuno has a clause in his West Ham contract whereby he can be sacked with no compensation if the Hammers are relegated.
Fans are split on whether they would want the ex Forest boss to stay if they were demoted to the Championship.
It was then revealed that Slaven Bilic is waiting for the West Ham job in the summer if that does happen.
Taty Castellanos celebrates during Burnley v West Ham United - Premier League
Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images
The clause means West Ham would avoid the messy situation of having to pay off a third manager simultaneously with Julen Lopetegui and Graham Potter both still on the payroll after being axed.
Now a second clause in Nuno Espirito Santo’s West Ham contract has been revealed and it is a major worry.
West Ham fans have really enjoyed what they have seen from their team in recent weeks.
The team seems to really be clicking and playing to Nuno’s tactics.
Many supporters remark how sorry they are Nuno was not the manager from the start of the season, feeling the club would not be in this position if he was.
If the Portuguese pulls off a new great escape with the Hammers, he will be adored by supporters.
Nuno can walk away from Hammers as things finally click
So it is extremely concerning to learn that while Nuno can be sacked with no compensation at the end of the season, he can also walk out on West Ham for nothing too.
That’s according to leading Hammers insider Sean Whetstone, who counts David Sullivan among his key contacts.
Whetstone says the big reveal that Nuno could be sacked without a pay-off was missing a hugely significant detail about a second clause.
He revealed that there is another clause allowing the 52-year-old to walk away from his West Ham contract for his own convenience if the Hammers are relegated.
One of the reasons for the second clause is that Nuno – like many of the players – would face a 50 per cent drop in wages were that to happen, falling from £4.5m to £2.25m per season.
That means Nuno could leave the club in the summer, less than one year into a three-year deal and there is nothing West Ham could do about it.
Recently, we learned via The Athletic that West Ham will pay no compensation to Nuno Espírito Santo if they are relegated at the end of the season.
What wasn't revealed is that the clause is thought to be mutual, allowing the 52-year-old to walk away from his West Ham contract… pic.twitter.com/J6HCiAHkbb
— West Ham Football (@westhamfootball) February 5, 2026
View Tweet
It was also revealed that West Ham currently have three managers on the payroll, costing the club around £10.5m per season – or £875,000 each month.
With Nuno in place, the Hammers are still paying up Potter until 2027 and Lopetegui until June this year.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox