Scott Parker adds Mark Noble to West Ham coaching staff after Cardiff comeback

Scott Parker has brought Mark Noble into his coaching team at West Ham, confirming an assistant role for the former captain as he begins the task of returning the club to the Premier League. According to the Guardian, Parker outlined the arrangement on Thursday after his new side recovered from a three-goal deficit to draw 3-3 at Cardiff.

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Noble has been West Ham's sporting director since retiring as a player in 2022. Parker said he would now coach alongside him and provide a sounding board. The appointment gives the new head coach support from someone already familiar with the squad and the club. Parker also has his own history at West Ham, having spent four years there as a midfielder.

The managerial change was completed on Tuesday, when West Ham dismissed Nuno Espírito Santo and appointed Parker. His opening match the following evening exposed the uneven performances he is trying to address: West Ham conceded three times before the interval, then recovered after he made three substitutions at half-time. The draw nevertheless extended their run without a victory to three matches.

Parker stressed that reputation and individual ability would not be enough to secure promotion from the Championship. In comments reported by the Guardian, he emphasised commitment and the need to understand the division's demands after relegation. He arrives with experience of winning promotion at Fulham, Bournemouth and Burnley, although his most recent job ended after Burnley's relegation from the Premier League in April.

The new coach also intends to give players a fresh opportunity. Soungoutou Magassa and Edson Álvarez are among those set to receive chances, while Maxwel Cornet travelled with the squad to Cardiff. Parker did not make the availability of transfer funding a central issue during his appointment discussions with interim chief executive Karim Virani and Daniel Kretinsky, the club's largest shareholder, the Guardian reported.

Parker described a strong sense of ambition in his discussions with Kretinsky, Virani and recruitment director Nils Koppen. West Ham chose him for his knowledge of the club and his Championship record. His immediate work now involves turning the response shown in the second half at Cardiff into more consistent performances, with Noble joining him on the training ground as the new coaching arrangement takes shape.