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West Ham go down
West Ham were relegated from the Premier League after a 3-0 home win over Leeds on the final day, but Tottenham stayed up by winning 1-0 at home to Everton to finish two points above West Ham.
“Tottenham, however, won 1-0 to finish two points above relegated West Ham.”
Nuno Espirito Santo said, "We are sad, we are disappointed but sadness is what we feel," after the club’s survival hopes ended despite goals from Taty Castellanos, Jarrod Bowen and Callum Wilson at the London Stadium.
The BBC described the relegation as ending West Ham’s 14-year stay in the top flight, and the club’s statement after the match said, "The plain truth is that we have not been good enough."
The New York Times’ account of the day said Tottenham stayed up with a win against Everton while West Ham were relegated to the Championship for the first time since 2012, despite West Ham’s 3-0 victory over Leeds.
Apologies and blame
After West Ham’s relegation was confirmed, Nuno told the BBC, "We have to apologise to our fans and thank them for all their incredible support," while also saying, "We knew that our mission was tough, it was not in our hands."
The BBC reported that frustrations came after West Ham took the lead against Leeds, with fans directing angry chants towards chairman Sullivan, who many blame for West Ham’s current plight.
The New York Times’ discussion of who is to blame said there would be huge implications on Nuno’s future, and it listed club captain Jarrod Bowen, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Mateus Fernandes, El Hadji Malick Diouf, Crysencio Summerville and Taty Castellanos as players who could leave.
It also described the atmosphere at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and the London Stadium, noting that television cameras picked up Spurs fans anxiously scrolling their phones when Castellanos scored for West Ham.
What comes next
The BBC said West Ham’s exit from the Premier League after 14 years comes with uncertainty and concern for the future, and it quoted the club’s statement about facing the consequences with "honesty, transparency and a determination to repair, refocus and rebuild."
“"honesty, transparency and a determination to repair, refocus and rebuild."”
Financial stakes were central to the BBC’s outlook, including that West Ham recorded a loss of £104m in their latest accounts to 31 May 2025 and that club sources estimate overall revenue will fall by between 50% and 60%.
The Independent said parachute payments soften the blow but put the crippling cost of relegation at over £60million, and it added that West Ham’s wage bill is four times that of the Championship average.
The BBC also reported that it is understood the club want stability this summer and would prefer Nuno to stay, while noting it is not clear whether the 52-year-old is keen on a return to the Championship.