West Ham have confirmed that club legend Kevin Nolan has left the club along with David Moyes. The news comes as the London outfit prepares to appoint former Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui as the Scotsman’s successor.
The club confirmed the news this morning with Billy McKinlay and recruitment chief Rob Newman also leaving West Ham. The appointment of Lopetegui is set to be announced later this week and the Spaniard will arrive with his own long-term coaching team.
West Ham goalkeeping coach Xavi Valero, who also hails from Spain, is expected to be the only survivor among Moyes’ senior staff. Nolan and McKinlay joins assistants Johnny Heitinga and Henry Newman in departing.
Nolan, who made 157 appearances for West Ham as a player between 2011 and 2015, has been working at the club since 2020 but will now seek a new challenge. He has managerial history at Leyton Orient in 2016 and Notts County between 2017 and 2018.
At Leyton Orient, Nolan worked as a player-coach for a brief period, earning a League Two Manager of the Month nomination for his efforts. His spell at Notts County was as a manager and, having initially steered the side clear of relegation in 2017, was dismissed the year later after a six-year winless run.
The Evening Standard added that the West Ham shake-up will also see technical director Tim Steidten given more say on transfers in a bid to streamline the process with Lopetegui.
A West Ham statement read: “West Ham United can confirm that men’s first-team coaches Billy McKinlay, Kevin Nolan, John Heitinga and Henry Newman have left the Club.
“All four provided support to David Moyes during his time as manager, as the Club secured three top-nine Premier League finishes, reached the latter stages of three UEFA competitions and won the 2023 UEFA Europa Conference League.
“Former midfielder Nolan, who captained the Hammers to promotion at Wembley in 2012, was appointed to Moyes’ backroom staff in February 2020. A valuable link between the manager and the dressing room, the 41-year-old was a visible presence on the touchline as the Hammers enjoyed four impressive seasons.”
