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Former West Ham coach sacked despite two promotions and Wembley wins
Byron Webster of Bromley celebrates with the trophy after winning the Vanarama National League Play-Off Final - Bromley v Solihull Moors - Vanarama National League Play-Off Final
Photo by Paul Harding/Getty Images

Nuno Espirito Santo was only appointed by West Ham United thirteen months ago, following a dreadful start to the 2025/26 Premier League campaign and the unravelling of Graham Potter.

Yet, Nuno has still been in situ for longer than thirteen other Championship bosses. West Ham United’s head coach is the eleventh longest-serving manager currently under contract in the second tier. He may yet climb that ladder, especially as John Eustace struggles to arrest Derby County’s death spiral.

A division below, a man until extremely recently the third-longest serving in the entire English footballing pyramid was relieved of his duties today.

TalkingPoints

What do you make of comparisons between Divine Mukasa and Jude Bellingham? Are there any obvious weaknesses the West Ham loanee needs to fix?

While Nuno has the full support of the West Ham board – you don’t hear Scott Parker’s name around these parts too much anymore – a third successive League One defeat saw Bromley blink.

Andy Woodman, who some long-toothed supporters may remember being part of Alan Pardew’s backroom staff at Upton Park, was fired less than 48 hours after a 4-0 home defeat by Leicester City.

Though the fact that such a fixture exists in the first place – Bromley finished 14th in the National League the year Leicester won the Premier League – is perhaps the biggest compliment you could pay to a man who departs a genuine club legend. Perhaps Bromley’s biggest legend.

Woodman, who spent a year training Rob Green as West Ham’s goalkeeping coach in 2006/07, was appointed as manager of Bromley half a decade ago. In 2022, he masterminded an FA Trophy triumph over Wrexham at Wembley. And while so much has been made of Wrexham’s rise in the subsequent years – the stuff of Hollywood, apparently – Bromley’s story is a gritty, Greater London tale of resilience and remarkable successes against stacked odds.

Bromley had never even stepped foot in the Football League until Woodman took them there in 2024. Now, after winning the League Two crown just two years into their EFL journey, Woodman was leading his side out on Wednesday night against a team who were facing Atletico Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals less than a decade ago; a tale driven by terrific long-term planning, inspired player trading, and yes wonderful management.

Woodman took Bromley from the fifth-tier to League One via Wembley

Bromley would suffer a 4-0 thumping at home to Leicester, bringing an end to Woodman’s incredible five-year stint.

Still, if you had told the average matchgoer that their humble fifth-tier outfit would be hosting the Premier League champions in the relatively near future, they’d be wondering where Andy Woodman wanted his statue.

The defeat leaves The Ravens second from bottom in League One, but with more than enough time left to turn the season around.

“I would firstly like to offer my sincere thanks to Andy for all he has achieved during his time with us,” says an emotional Robin Stanton-Gleaves, Bromley’s owner and chairman. “It’s no surprise that this club has reached new heights and Andy has been fundamental in helping us achieve that.

“I would like to reassure our supporters that we will be entering this new chapter with the same ambition and determination to keep moving this football club forward.”

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