While no precise figure for a so‑called “survival bonus” has been publicly disclosed, it’s widely understood that Nuno Espírito Santo’s main financial incentive for keeping [West Ham](https://www.claretandhugh.info/west-hams-financial-doomsday-scenario/) in the Premier League is simply the preservation of his £4.5 million annual salary.
For comparison, former manager David Moyes reportedly had a £1 million bonus tied to performance targets, including Premier League survival.
Nuno’s contract, signed in September 2025, contains several significant financial consequences should the club be relegated.
If West Ham were to drop into the Championship and still retain Nuno, his salary would automatically be cut -painfully -by 50%, bringing it down to £2.25 million, a reduction mirrored across the playing squad.
Nuno’s deal also includes a break clause, giving him the option to walk away should circumstances deteriorate.
Yet relegation would also give the club the option to dismiss him without paying compensation, a notable detail given that a standard payout could have reached around £10 million.
Relegation would cost Nuno millions – if he stayed
This clause matters even more considering the club is already carrying the financial burden of two former managers. Graham Potter, was believed to be earning £5 million per season on a deal that ran until June 2027, and remains on the payroll. Although he receives a modest salary as Sweden’s Head Coach, West Ham must cover the difference for at least another sixteen months.
Julen Lopetegui’s situation is similar. His contract with West Ham ran until June 2026 at £3.5 million a year. Despite taking the Qatar national team job on a reported £2 million salary, the Hammers are still obligated to pay the remaining £1.5 million.
What is clear is that the West Ham board has taken lessons from past missteps.
The structure of Nuno’s contract reflects a more cautious, financially disciplined strategy designed to protect the club from the spiralling costs of managerial turnover. Whether this new approach proves effective will depend not only on results on the pitch but on the club’s ability to stabilise its long‑term planning after years of costly upheaval.
Should Nuno keep West Ham up his stock will have risen. Next up is Bournemouth at home, a must win game, four words that will be repeated again and again over the next twelve matches!