Despite beating Leeds United 3-0 on Sunday, West Ham dropped to the second tier for the first time since 2011-12 after Tottenham beat Everton to secure its top-flight status. 

The Hammers' 39 points are the most by a side to go down since both Birmingham City and Blackpool was relegated on 39 in 2010-11. 

In addition, had only results from Nuno Espirito Santo's first game in charge on 29 September this season counted, West Ham would have finished 16th in the Premier League with 36 points (W9 D9 L15).

However, the damage had already been done, and despite the best efforts of Nuno and club captain Bowen, the Hammers were unable to recover, with this outcome happening just three years after winning the Conference League title. 

Bowen's future at the club remains to be seen, but he took the time to post on social media to apologise to the West Ham fans for their performances this season. 

It's hard to post something like this when all you're feeling is embarrassment and pain," Bowen said in an Instagram post. 

"I could write loads trying to explain where it all went wrong this season, but honestly, what you deserve from me is an apology.

"Winning that trophy in Prague was the best night of my career. Sunday was the worst. We just weren't good enough. Simple as that.

"And that's why the season ended the way it did. To the fans, you didn't let us down once.

"The support home and away never changed, even when things weren't good enough from us on the pitch. We should have given you more. You deserved more.

"One thing I know about this club is that it has the desire and fight to bounce back from this. This club belongs in the Premier League and deserves to be back there."

Bowen did everything possible to keep West Ham up, registering nine goals and 11 assists in the top-flight, with two of those goal involvements coming against Leeds.

His 11 assists were his most ever in a single season. Only Paolo Di Canio in 1999-00 (13) and Dimitri Payet in 2015-16 (12) have more in a season for West Ham, and only Muzzy Izzet (14 in 2003-04 for Leicester City) has more assists for a relegated team in one campaign.

Crysencio Summerville, Mateus Fernandes and Valentin Castellanos also played their part, though the trio, along with several other members of West Ham's side, face uncertainty around their futures, with transfers seemingly likely in the summer. 

It has also been reported that Nuno could be sacked by the club, with the West Ham boss meeting with the club's senior management to discuss the impact of relegation. 

Those same reports have also tipped Scott Parker to replace Nuno if he leaves, with the former Burnley boss having won promotion from the Championship three times in his career with Fulham, Bournemouth and the Clarets.