West Ham legend Tony Gale has risked the wrath of West Ham fans by defending under-fire majority owner David Sullivan amid protests.
Hammers fans lined the street leading to the director’s entrance at the London Stadium ahead of the crucial clash with Crystal Palace.
West Ham’s Fan Advisory Board issued a public vote of no confidence in the board just over two weeks ago.
Fan group Hammers United then announced plans for season-long protests, starting before the Palace defeat.
David Sullivan and vice-chair Karren Brady are the chief targets of the protests with their initials part of Hammers United’s ‘No more BS’ slogan.
Protests, Potter and problems at West Ham
West Ham sent Brady to meet with the FAB before the demoralising 3-0 defeat to Spurs.
But instead of apologies, action plans and explanations, West Ham’s board scored a huge own goal with a mammoth tone deaf statement trumpeting what a good job they feel they have done in east London overall.
Holes have been picked in some of the claims, particularly surrounding finances.
The statement merely served to stir up increased determination among some supporters to attend the protest.
Video footage shows the West Ham protest turnout as the positions of Sullivan and Brady appear increasingly untenable.
Such is the groundswell of fury among the fanbase towards the ownership, anything remotely board-leaning gets understandably short shrift from supporters.
So one Hammers legend really is sailing close to the wind.
Tony Gale has risked the wrath of West Ham fans by defending under-fire Sullivan and the board.
While supporters protested against the owners outside the ground, they made it clear to the team they remained behind them despite a desperately poor start to the new season.
That continued with the 2-1 defeat to Palace in which West Ham conceded yet another goal from a corner.
While fans are somewhat sympathetic to the shambles operating above Potter – and a lack of backing in the summer window – it is accepted he should be doing much better than six wins in 25 games.
Gale risks wrath of West Ham fans by defending Sullivan
A growing majority of fans have seen enough from the manager as well as the ownership.
Supporters have vowed to continue their activism by boycotting the club’s next home game against Brentford after the October international break.
Given the protests, TV cameras were almost constantly trained on Sullivan and Brady in the director’s box.
Brady was wearing a smirk in one shot just as the game kicked off.
Sullivan looked altogether more pained, probably in the realisation the gravy train is about to derail down into the Championship.
West Ham bemoaned PSR issues in the summer as they had to sell to buy.
The squad has been patched together with free agents and signings from relegated clubs.
But one man has put his head above the London Stadium parapet to speak up for the board.
Gale was on the commentary for Premier League Productions for the latest West Ham defeat.
When the camera turned on Sullivan at one stage, Gale spoke up for the vastly unpopular majority owner.
“He’s under pressure the chairman,” Gale said when Sullivan appeared on camera.
“But they’re doing their utmost.
“I think they’ve (the board) signed some good players over the last two (summer) windows.”
Don’t wipe your eyes West Ham fans, you did read that correctly.
Gale’s defence of Hammers board doesn’t add up
Gale is entitled to his opinion of course and likely watches West Ham as much as any fan right now.
But that just makes his comments all the more baffling.
With £100m losses coming in West Ham’s next accounts in December, a lack of sufficient investment in the team to achieve goals set out in pledges to fans when moving stadium and the rapid regression of the last two years, the board don’t have a leg to stand on.
Certainly not in the eyes of fans – and now increasingly the national press.
Throw in the fact supporters have been continually ignored over their hatred of the stadium itself – after broken promises about a world class retractable seating solution – and it takes a brave, or silly, man to speak up for the owners.
Gale even sounded sheepish as he uttered his bemusing defence of Sullivan.
The former defender is usually on the money with his West Ham takes but this one is as tone deaf as the club’s 1,382-word statement in midweek.
