As reported by Martin on Claret & Hugh yesterday, West Ham United boss Nuno Espírito Santo has a clause in his contract allowing it to be torn up should the Hammers be relegated at the end of the season.
That would enable the club to walk away from an expensive deal without further financial penalties — but it has also prompted speculation that Nuno may be fighting particularly hard to avoid having relegation with West Ham on his CV.
In truth, though, it’s unlikely such an outcome would damage his future prospects too badly.
Because as is becoming increasingly accepted, most of West Ham’s problems sit far above the manager’s pay grade.
David Sullivan would be the focus for much of the blame should West Ham suffer relegation
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Recruitment Failure Leaves Nuno Exposed
If the worst were to happen, Nuno would probably emerge relatively unscathed.
There’s growing sympathy outside the club for anyone attempting to work within what many now describe as an impossible job. More than at any point I can remember, the national media are openly discussing West Ham’s structural failings — and almost universally arriving at the same conclusion: recruitment.
Irrespective of who is analysing the Hammers, the verdict is remarkably consistent.
And responsibility for that ultimately rests with David Sullivan, who is currently operating without either a director of football or a head of recruitment.
That vacuum has left Nuno exposed.
So while relegation would undoubtedly be damaging for West Ham as a club, it’s hard to imagine the manager carrying much blame in wider football circles. The prevailing view is already that the ownership model and broken infrastructure are at the heart of the problem — not the man on the touchline.
Which means that if Nuno were to leave the London Stadium this summer, he’d likely do so with his reputation largely intact.
Because everyone watching can see where the real issues lie.