# West Ham United early Championship struggles > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/west-ham-united-early-championship-struggles > Updated: 2026-08-23T17:53:25.000Z. Sources: 8. Developments: 2. West Ham United’s difficult Championship campaign has intensified, with mounting pressure on manager Nuno Espirito Santo following a 2-1 loss to Charlton Athletic. The defeat, which saw players booed off the pitch at the London Stadium, has placed the manager’s tactics and team selection under heavy scrutiny. Club leadership is reportedly monitoring the situation closely. While the board currently supports Espirito Santo, his position may be reconsidered if performance does not improve in upcoming fixtures against Watford and Southampton in the Carabao Cup. Concerns have been raised regarding the lack of a prepared candidate list for a potential replacement should a change occur. Internal dynamics are also shifting as the club navigates its ownership transition. Reports suggest David Sullivan may attempt to re-exert influence over footballing decisions and managerial selection alongside Daniel Kretinsky. On the pitch, the team continues to struggle with defensive organization and consistency, including recent issues with penalty execution. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-23: West Ham United faces pressure amid poor start to season West Ham United manager Nuno Espirito Santo faces increasing pressure following a poor start to the season and a loss to Charlton Athletic, amid reports of potential leadership involvement in future decisions. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/west-ham-united-faces-pressure-after-poor-championship-start ### 2026-08-21: West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo apologizes after Charlton defeat West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo apologized to fans after a 2-1 home loss to Charlton Athletic, leaving the club winless in their first two Championship games despite heavy possession. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/west-ham-manager-nuno-espirito-santo-apologizes-after-charlton-defeat --- Cite as: West Ham United early Championship struggles. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/west-ham-united-early-championship-struggles