Video footage has emerged from the West Ham protest against David Sullivan and Karren Brady at the London Stadium ahead of the game against Crystal Palace.
West Ham’s home match against Crystal Palace has been billed as judgement day for manager Graham Potter.
But if anything it has become judgement day for West Ham’s under-fire owners.
Widespread reports have claimed Potter will be sacked if the Hammers lose to Palace.
Nuno Espirito Santo has been linked as Potter’s replacement.
Recently sacked by Forest after a falling out with owner Evangelos Marinakis, Nuno Espirito Santo has been pictured near David Sullivan’s mansion after West Ham talks.
West Ham owners tried to dissuade fans from protesting
The big game comes against the backdrop of fan protests against David Sullivan, vice-chair Karren Brady and the Hammers board.
Many feel the leaks to the media about an imminent managerial change this week have been a deflection tactic from the owners to dissuade West Ham fans from taking part in the protest.
West Ham also put forward a new boy to quell fan protests.
News flash, it hasn’t worked.
Last month Hammers News revealed West Ham fans were planning new protests against the owners.
West Ham’s Fan Advisory Board then issued a public vote of no confidence in the ownership.
That resulted in West Ham sending Brady to meet with fed-up fans.
In the meantime majority owner Sullivan has cut off West Ham-related media outlets, citing a lack of support amid the growing unrest.
The glare of the national media, usually obsessed with their precious “Big Six”, is also on the Hammers, ramping up the pressure on the owners further still.
West Ham poured petrol on the fire when they released a 1,382-word statement ahead of the protests.
Videos show West Ham protest turnout
Instead of promising changes, answers and action, it was filled with self-praise for the job they have done in east London, scoring a huge own goal with supporters.
The statement appeared to serve merely to unite the club’s fanbase even more.
But the owners would have privately been hoping supporters may decide against changing their usual matchday routines to line the streets on the approach to the director’s box.
Not a bit of it.
Because videos show the West Ham protest turnout as Sullivan and Brady’s positions become untenable.
Previous protests have attracted good numbers.
But the pandemic and a meteoric rise under David Moyes saw the appetite to continue previous protests diminish.
Now footage underlines the growing pressure on Sullivan and Brady, with thousands turning out at the London Stadium for the protests.
Supporters have voted with their actions and there is clearly no way back for Sullivan and Brady from here.
Hammers United, who are leading the ‘No more BS’ protest, have praised supporters for the ‘great turnout’.
West Ham fans have been chanting ‘BS OUT’ as cars pass into the director’s entrance.
Sullivan and Brady’s positions untenable as thousands join protest
If there was any doubt over the strength of feeling among supporters then the big turnout for the protest firmly put that to bed.
Hammers fans are calling on Sullivan and Brady to leave or at least stand aside and appoint specialist professionals to take charge of the day-to-day running of West Ham.
That is now a necessity after Hammers fans lined the streets in their thousands to make their feelings clear.
You can watch some footage showing the turnout in the posts below.
Athletic reporter Roshane Thomas has posted videos showing West Ham fans singing ‘Stand up if you hate the board’ and ‘Sack the board’.
