West Ham appoint Parker as new head coach

West Ham United have appointed former midfielder Scott Parker as their new head coach on a two-and-a-half-year contract.

The 46-year-old replaces Nuno Espirito Santo, who was sacked on Tuesday following the club’s disappointing start to the Championship season.

Parker returns to the London Stadium after playing for West Ham and takes charge of a side that began the campaign as one of the favourites for promotion but has slipped to eighth, six points behind leaders Middlesbrough.

The former England international will lead the team for the first time on Wednesday when West Ham travel to Cardiff City.

Parker has a strong record in the Championship, having secured promotion to the Premier League with Fulham, Bournemouth and Burnley.

He had been without a club since leaving Burnley in April following their relegation from the Premier League.

“It is a very proud moment for me to step into this role and return to a club that means so much to me and my family,” Parker said in a statement on the club’s website.

He added that he felt privileged to lead West Ham and was determined to help them return to the Premier League.

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“I’ve been in this division three times and I’ve got out of this division three times. This is a tough division, there is absolutely no denying it,” he said.

“I will use every ounce of my experience, every ounce of my knowledge, to have an understanding of what we’re going to need to bring consistency.”

Parker will work with first-team coaches Steve Potts, Gerard Prenderville and Billy Lepine, while sporting director Mark Noble will also work closely with him.

West Ham interim chief executive Karim Virani said Parker was the unanimous choice of the club’s board, citing his experience, promotion record and understanding of the club.

The appointment follows a difficult run under Nuno, whose dismissal came after consecutive home defeats by Southampton and West Bromwich Albion.

West Ham have won only two of their past six matches and dropped from second place after losing 3-2 to Southampton and 3-1 to West Brom.

The club will hope Parker can revive their campaign and secure an immediate return to the Premier League.