Scott Parker is the frontrunner to take charge of West Ham United following the sacking of Nuno Espirito Santo on Tuesday, and two former club players have made a compelling, if not unqualified, case for the appointment.

Rob Green, the former West Ham goalkeeper and long-time teammate of Parker's, was direct in his assessment when speaking to BBC Radio London. "Scott's shown a proven record of getting promoted," Green said. "His teams know exactly what they need to do to get up." For a club currently sitting eighth in the Championship, six points behind leaders Middlesbrough, that kind of expertise carries obvious weight.

The promotion pedigree argument

Parker, 46, has previously guided Fulham, Bournemouth and Burnley out of the Championship as a manager, giving him a track record in the second tier that few candidates can match. Green acknowledged the criticism that follows Parker's name, namely that his sides can be functional rather than thrilling, but framed it as a reasonable trade-off at this level.

"Detractors of Scott would say, 'this is not a really imaginative style of play'," Green said. "I think Scott would say, 'well, actually, my team knows exactly what it needs to do to get promoted.' You get in the Premier League, you stay in the Premier League, then you worry about the style of football."

It is a defensible position. The Championship is a division where tactical organisation and resilience over 46 games matter as much as any single flash of quality. Parker has demonstrated, across three separate clubs and at different points in his managerial career, that he understands what the division demands. Whether those promotions translate into a different challenge, inheriting a squad assembled for the top flight and tasked with bouncing straight back up, is a fair question, and one the evidence does not yet settle.

West Ham's position and what it demands

The backdrop here is uncomfortable for everyone at the club. West Ham were widely considered automatic promotion favourites when the season began, given the quality of their squad relative to Championship standards. They have won just two of their last six games and have lost consecutive home matches, going down 3-2 to Southampton and then 3-1 to West Bromwich Albion on Saturday. Nuno's departure makes him the fourth permanent manager the club have lost since David Moyes left in May 2024.

Former player John Moncur, also speaking to BBC Radio London, was candid about the circumstances that brought the club to this point. "I don't think we would have been in this position if Moyes had stayed," he said. He nevertheless backed Parker for the vacancy. "He has done a good job at other clubs, he knows the club backwards and it seems to fit."

Moncur offered a reminder that the fanbase will not be easily managed if results do not improve quickly. "They are a very educated bunch of fans, you can't pull the wool over their eyes. Scott will know that. It's no good playing lovely football if you're not winning matches."

What changes and what stays the same

The appointment, if confirmed, would be Parker's second stint in the Championship with a club carrying Premier League expectations. At Burnley, he took over a side with considerable resources relative to most of their rivals; West Ham's situation is arguably the most resource-heavy Championship posting available. Green's point about the quality already in the squad is worth testing: if the players are there, the argument goes, a manager who can organise and focus a group may unlock results that a more ambitious system has so far failed to produce.

That said, Parker's record after promotion is less clear-cut, and the club will want certainty on a short turnaround. Supporters will judge the appointment on what they see in the coming weeks, not on past credentials. The history is encouraging enough to make the case; whether it is sufficient will depend on what happens on the pitch.

Frequently asked

Why was Nuno Espirito Santo sacked by West Ham?
Nuno was dismissed on Tuesday after a poor run of results that left West Ham eighth in the Championship, six points off the top. The club had won just two of their last six games and suffered back-to-back home defeats to Southampton and West Brom.
What is Scott Parker's Championship promotion record?
Parker has won promotion from the Championship three times as a manager, with Fulham, Bournemouth and Burnley. That track record in the second tier is the main reason he is considered the leading candidate for the West Ham job.
Where are West Ham in the Championship table?
According to reports, West Ham are currently eighth in the Championship, six points behind leaders Middlesbrough.