A top journalist has made an astonishing claim that West Ham could be set for a change of ownership.
A large section of West Ham supporters want majority owner David Sullivan to sell up.
Especially with the Hammers facing financial issues which will restrict spending this summer.
After a disastrous season-and-a-half which has seen West Ham win just 13 of their last 52 Premier League games, that is a grim prospect.
Languishing down in 17th in the Premier League, many supporters feel the potential inability to invest in the team does not bode well.
Hammers have been subject of persistent takeover rumours
Earlier this season boyhood Hammers fan Ray Parlour called on Sullivan to sell West Ham so the club can fulfil its true potential.
Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky bought 27 per cent of West Ham back in November 2021.
That deal pumped around £150m into the club at the time.
Kretinsky has doubled his net worth to a staggering £13bn since then, meaning West Ham have the third wealthiest ownership in the Premier League.
The hope – and indeed expectation – among West Ham fans was that Kretinsky – nicknamed ‘the Czech Sphinx’ in his homeland – would one day complete a full takeover, buying out Sullivan.
But reports claimed he could now want out of the east London club having grown frustrated.
West Ham responded claims Kretinsky wants to sell his £200m stake.
And it could be described as ‘coy’ at best, with the other key board members stating the question should be put to the man himself and not them.
Journalist’s claim about change of West Ham ownership
Due to PSR, owners cannot simply plough their own money into a team any more.
Spending is tied to income and must not exceed the parameters set for losses over a three-year period.
The Hammers did a £69m deal with Barclays to borrow against every penny owed to them in transfers in order to fund last summer’s £155m splurge.
A top West Ham insider recently described the club’s finances as a mess and braced Hammers fans for £80m losses in the next set of accounts.
At 76, West Ham’s majority stakeholder Sullivan is not getting any younger.
His sons Dave and Jack are on the board, where Kretinsky has his own men looking after his West Ham affairs rather than dealing with things himself directly.
Credit: Getty Images/Catherine Ivill/Glyn Kirk/Joel Saget/AMA/AFP.
There have been claims West Ham could be sold to interested US and Middle East bidders in the recent past.
Especially since the Gold family put as much as 25 per cent of the club up for sale back in October 2023.
Nothing has materialised as yet.
But now a top journalist has made an astonishing claim about a change of West Ham ownership.
Times reporter Gary Jacob has delivered a compelling West Ham update.
In it, Jacob makes an almost throwaway claim that some form of takeover or change of ownership could be on the cards at the London Stadium.
And he states there may be a tie-in with a naming rights deal for the ground too as he laid out the financial issues.
‘Questions over future of West Ham ownership’
“There are also questions over the future ownership of the club and their stadium landlord finding a naming-rights deal,” Jacob reports in The Times.
“In January, West Ham delivered impressive financial results, with a £57million pre-tax profit covering last season, although they had the benefit of Europa League football and banking Declan Rice’s £100million sale to Arsenal.
“The figures are expected to be less rosy for this season, with the club having committed heavily on players last summer and earning less prize money after failing to qualify for Europe. They need to be careful to stay within the league’s financial parameters and owe significant money on past signings.
“What is clear is that West Ham must sell before they can buy.”
