Fans fury as West Ham on brink of drop - how have they got here?

How did it come to this?

It is less than three years since West Ham lifted a European trophy in Prague, beating Fiorentina 2-1 in the Europa Conference League final.

Only two years ago, they were taking on German champions Bayer Leverkusen in a Europa League quarter-final.

But next season, their supporters could be trading the glamour of European nights and Premier League away days for trips to Lincoln City's 10,669-seater LNER Community Stadium and the equally modest Racecourse Ground to face Wrexham.

How did the Hammers' season unravel?

The defining moment of West Ham's season might be Callum Wilson's stoppage-time equaliser against Arsenal that never was.

But their slide towards the Championship began long before that and could be traced back to the departure of David Moyes in 2024 as the club opted for a more expansive style of football.

Across two spells, Moyes won 112 of his 261 matches, delivering three top-10 finishes. He also ended the club's long wait for silverware in Europe.

Since his exit, the Hammers have struggled for stability and direction.

Julen Lopetegui lasted only six months while his successor Graham Potter was out after eight.

Nuno arrived in September looking to reboot a side that took only three points from their opening five games under Potter.

The Portuguese began with a draw at Everton, but three consecutive losses to Arsenal, Brentford and Leeds soon after laid bare the scale of the task at hand.

Back-to-back wins in November suggested a turning point, but it was followed by a 10-game winless run from November into January.

A spell of three wins in four matches against fellow strugglers Tottenham, Sunderland and Burnley at the turn of the year offered hope again, but just three victories in 12 games since have left them on the brink.

Numbers behind a miserable campaign

• Even if they lose their final game - West Ham's 36 points would become the highest total to be relegated in a decade after Newcastle (37) in 2015-16.
• West Ham have failed to score in 13 of their 37 games - only Wolves (19) and Nottingham Forest (14) have failed to score more often this season.
• Nuno has won 10, drawn 11 and lost 15 of 36 matches as West Ham manager across all competitions.
• His 27.8% win ratio with the Hammers is the lowest he has managed in the Premier League - Wolves (47.7%), Tottenham (47.1%) and Forest (38.4%).

Will Nuno be in charge in Championship?

Figure caption,

Lack of consistency in officiating upsetting - Espirito Santo

Nuno arrived with a point to prove - after a deterioration in his relationship with Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis led to his sacking after 21 months in charge.

He became West Ham's fourth permanent manager in six years and, despite overseeing a relegation, still boasts an impressive CV, having also managed Rio Ave, Valencia, Porto, Wolves, Spurs and Al-Ittihad.

The 52-year-old famously led Wolves out of the Championship in his first season in charge in 2017-18, and then took them into Europe, which might be appealing to West Ham's hierarchy.

But having appointed him on a three-year contract last September and seen him preside over the 10-match run without a win that ultimately left the Hammers with too much ground to make up, it could also be argued Nuno shoulders a significant portion of blame for what has happened and he should go as well.

Which players could leave this summer?

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Jarrod Bowen joined West Ham from Hull City in a £20m-plus deal in 2020

West Ham were already planning to sell players this summer after posting a £104.2m loss for the last financial year.

The impending relegation would only place more pressure on the club's finances.

The Hammers, however,are giving little away when it comes to future planning.

For now, they remain hopeful of succeeding in their survival fight, even if it looks from the outside as though it is an impossible task.

Much will depend on the thoughts of chairman David Sullivan and the other significant shareholder Daniel Kretinsky, the Czech businessman who now also owns the Royal Mail.

There are some players whose departures would seem obvious.

Midfielder Mateus Fernandes has been looked at by a number of clubs, including Manchester United, and the Portugal star is a saleable asset.

Winger Crysencio Summerville has found his form over the past couple of months and also might attract attention.

Axel Disasi will presumably return to Chelsea when his loan expires on 30 June despite his good performances in defence. Adama Traore joined from Fulham on a permanent deal in January but to the end of the season, with an option for an additional year, which is yet to be triggered.

The big decision will surround skipper Jarrod Bowen.

Along with Tomas Soucek and Alphonse Areola, the man whose last-minute goal famously won the Conference League final, is one of only three starters from that night still at the club.

Bowen, 29, is a crowd favourite and his father-in-law is actor and celebrity West Ham fan Danny Dyer.

If he could be persuaded to lead West Ham's attempt to return to the Premier League at the first attempt, it would represent a major coup.

However, the club - and Bowen - know there would be a queue of clubs keen to sign him for a decent fee, which would cover some of the club's financial hit.

"But whether West Ham can extract full market value for them, given age and potential clauses in contracts, remains to be seen," football finance expert Kieran Maguire said.

"Some players will have relegation clauses, which usually are no more than 25%, so the total wage bill will decrease significantly."

£100m loss, job cuts and empty seats?

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Protests took place before West Ham's home game against Crystal Palace last September

Maguire expects relegation to cost West Ham a revenue loss of around £100m.

"Last season West Ham generated £228m, of which £133m was from broadcasting but that could fall to about £48m even with parachute payments and they will find it difficult to charge premium prices to sponsors and matchday fans."

A wage bill which dwarfs most Championship clubs is also a concern.

"Championship wages averaged £37m in 2025. West Ham's was well over four times that figure and averaged £75,000 per week [per player]," Maguire added.

"There could be job losses at the club as they are unlikely to need a large marketing, communications and back-office staff given the relative lack of interest from international markets in the Championship."

Their 62,500-seater ground, while an asset in the Premier League, could be a burden in the Championship.

"The cost of renting the stadium, which was about £4m in 2024-25, may fall if there is a relegation clause. But it is a large venue, so maintenance and general overheads will be substantial.

"And unless there is a very good start to the next season, there is a danger of empty seats too."

With London Stadium already the backdrop for fan protests against the running of the club under Sullivan and now former vice-chair Baroness Karren Brady, the decisions in the coming weeks and months will be crucial to the club's future.