Scott Parker returns to West Ham and is hoarse after Cardiff comeback
Scott Parker returned to West Ham as head coach and watched his new side recover from 3-0 down to draw with Cardiff in Cardiff on Wednesday, leaving him hoarse when he spoke to the media on Thursday.
Parker cut short a break after leaving Burnley following relegation last April when West Ham parted company with Nuno Espírito Santo, who was sacked early on Tuesday and replaced by Parker. A former midfield player who spent four years at West Ham, Parker arrives with an established record of winning promotion and says he intends to take the club back to the top flight at the first attempt. He has already begun work on the squad and backroom setup since his appointment.
West Ham sit in the final playoff place after three games without a win and showed their inconsistency in the comeback at Cardiff, having conceded three times in the first half before recovering after Parker made three half-time changes. Jarrod Bowen was singled out for an inspired contribution during the fightback. Parker said the team will need more complete performances if they are to achieve automatic promotion.
“It’s like in the summer holidays,” Parker said. “You put the flip-flops on for five weeks, then you come back home and you get your shoes on. You’re in a minute, you’ve got a blister on the back of your heel. It’s the same with a throat. I’ve not shouted for a little while. All of a sudden there’s shouting and it’s a bit croaky.”
Parker warned that quality on paper will not be enough in the Championship: “The Championship’s a tough league,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what name you have on a bit of paper. You have to have a level of humility of what this league needs. That’s a challenge when you come out of the Premier League.” He added that Burnley had been stingy when they won promotion and stressed that he must sort out West Ham’s defence, while also saying: “Of course we want to play a certain brand,” the 46-year-old said. “But I think it’s just a non-negotiable in terms of a committed team.”
Parker has restructured his coaching staff by bringing Mark Noble into his backroom team; Noble has held the role of West Ham’s sporting director since retiring in 2022 but Parker confirmed the former club captain would have a role as an assistant coach. “He’s going to be coaching with me and be that sounding board,” Parker said. The manager also indicated squad opportunities for Soungoutou Magassa and Edson Álvarez, noted that Maxwel Cornet travelled with the squad to Cardiff and suggested Nils Koppen, the director of recruitment, could be busy in January.
Parker said he did not focus during negotiations with Karim Virani, West Ham’s interim CEO, and Daniel Kretinsky, the club’s largest shareholder, on whether funds would be available for signings. He noted changes at board level — David Sullivan still owns a 40% stake but is no longer on the board and Kretinsky’s influence has grown — and described his conversations with the owners: “I found a man that was hugely passionate,” Parker said. “I instantly felt that, along with Karim, along with Nils. These were three people who know where they want the club to go.”
Parker pointed to his previous promotions with Bournemouth, Burnley and Fulham when outlining why he was chosen, but acknowledged criticism of his record in the Premier League: “In a short space of a coaching career I’ve had some huge success,” Parker said. “I’ve had some blips in terms of two full seasons in the Premier League. All I know is that I’m fully committed.” The owners, he added, wanted his knowledge of the club and his record at this level.
West Ham are eighth in the table and will visit Blackburn Rovers on Saturday, taking 7,000 supporters to Ewood Park; Parker has warned there can be no more complacency from his squad.