by Staff Writer
Thursday, 16th July 2026
Kevin Phillips is a player who served his time in the Championship before making it big in the Premier League.
The former striker, now 52 came through the ranks with AFC Fylde and Baldock Town before being snapped up Watford and then Sunderland, for whom he became a goalscoring sensation that led to eight senior England caps.
So when Phillips says that he believes West Ham will return to the Premier League at the first attempt, you can be assured it's coming from someone who knows exactly what it takes to succeed in England's second tier.
And when KUMB asked Phillips whether he expects the Hammers to secure promotion back to the top flight at the first attempt, he was unequivocal in reply.
"Early on, you knew Sunderland were going to survive and then Leeds survived, and that kind of killed West Ham a bit. It nearly killed Spurs too!" he said.
"But if two of the three promoted teams achieve safety, It always meant that one of the established Premier League teams was going to get dragged into it.
"Recruitment has just not been good enough at West Ham. It's been way off. So in the end, I think that's come back to haunt them.
"As for the Championship, It's really, really difficult. West Ham will be up there as one of the favourites, if not the favourites, to come back [at the first attempt].
"But as we all know from experience, it's notoriously difficult to come straight back up out of the Championship - because everybody will want to beat West Ham at their ground as it's like a cup final for them.
"They'll raise their standards. So it's over to West Ham's players to deal with that, cope with that. And if they do, they'll certainly be there or thereabouts."
And Phillips believe the club took the right step in retaining the services of Nuno Espirito Santo as manager, even though he ultimately failed to keep the team in the Premier League last season.
"I think they were right to have kept him," added Phillips. "I don't see how a change would help. A lot of people were talking about Scott Parker, but I think it's good that he's still there."
And as for who may prove to be United's biggest rivals for promotion? Look no further than the two other relegated club's believes Phillips.
"Burnley and Wolves will be up there because of the money that they're going to be able to spend," he insisted. "And again, Southampton, Middlesbrough, and if you want to throw an outsider in, I think maybe a Birmingham or a Wrexham again might challenge up there. And again, a Norwich.
"So I think it's going to be a really, really tough league next season to get out of. No one's guaranteed."
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