This week West Ham’s Vice-Chairman Karren Brady mentioned in an interview that she would like to embark on a career in politics, stating “I love politics… I want to get involved.” Most media oulets have run with the story, and while of course this doesn’t mean Brady is about to leave us, it has certainly got me thinking about her role in running our club, and what it would mean for West Ham if she did decide to head for more political pastures.
The David’s have been outspoken in their desire to be involved in running the club for the long haul- a sentiment that Karren Brady hasn’t really echoed. Now with her comments about an eventual change in career, does this mean Brady doesn’t consider her current role as a long-term appointment, and how would her (again, eventual- not jumping too many guns here) departure affect the club if that were the case?
I think we can all agree that the current board has been doing an ace job. We’re bringing in and legitimately linked with top quality players, enjoying entertaining football (at home anyway), have got kits made by a huge global company, and I’ve never been so excited for a football season to start up again.
But of this current high-achieving board, Brady is more well-known for her second job on the Apprentice than for her role at West Ham. She was, of course, absolutely instrumental in securing the Olympic Stadium for us, but certainly didn’t win over any fans with her suggestion that we become “West Ham Olympic” – nor by calling fans who opposed the move to the OS “a bit blind or a bit crazy.”
For me, I’m a big fan. Brady has an impressive football and business CV. There are few woman in football that I can look up to, and I admire the way she’s worked her way up to a high position in a male-dominated industry (although she did tweet using the wrong form of ‘their’ recently, and fell a bit in my esteem.)
Financially, she seems to have been good for the club (although it’s always tough to see who is pulling what strings.) According to her website in her first year as MD at Birmingham “the club recorded a financial trading profit” and after three years “made an overall profit for the first time in modern history.” Her website also similarly states that “following her first 12 months at West Ham, the club made a trading profit for the first time in many years.” We certainly feel more financially secure than we have done in years.
Of course if she does decide to go after her political dreams, she might not need to leave West Ham. She certainly could handle another role concurrently. Plenty of politics exist in football; although politicians in football are few and far between (the most notable exception would be David Milliband being on Sunderland’s board until our favourite “fascist” came along.)
There’s certainly nothing to suggest Karren wants out at Upton Park anytime. I think she’s done well for us so far, and hope she continues to do so- but her wistful ‘change of career’ comments do lead me to think this may not be a long-term commitment for her.
What do you think- will Karren depart us for deeper political waters? And, if she does, will she be missed?
The OS is Karren Brady’s baby… I’d imagine she’d want some involvement in it at least right up until we step out for our first game there
She has expressed her interest in politics for a long time now this isn’t new news, she even said it during her interview with Peirs Morgan on tv. So no need to panic yet.. I think she will be around for a while yet.. As Hayden says i think she will at the very least want to be involved with us going into the new stadium…
The two david”s will sell west ham about a year maybe 2 after moving too the new stadium,to the highest foreign bidder and double there investment ,Karen Brady will leave the club then,odds on,wheres the money from sale of the boleyn going !!!
“she did tweet using the wrong form of ‘their’ recently, and fell a bit in my esteem”…
At least she knows the difference between a singular and a plural, i.e.
“There are few woman in football that I can look up to”!!
Ho Hum…
Hehe, well luckily no one holds me in particularly high esteem. No where to fall when you’re already at the botom!
What is there to panic about,if she goes then they just bring in another person to carry on were she left off.She would be perfect as a TORY MP ,full of self importance and as for the question of were the money from the sale of the boleyn will go ???? little&large come to mind.
Had to laugh – pulling her up on tweeting “their” instead of “there”, in the same paragraph you said “there are few woman” instead of “women”!!!
Not sure if the two Daves will sell the club for a long time as I think they have to wait 10 years under the terms of going into the OS otherwise they have to pay a percentage of any profit made but after 10 years this will not apply. Of course they may still sell only time will tell.
WHO CARES
I thought Brady left West Ham years ago, I was at his last game when he scored with the very last kick.
As for that reality TV wanabee, she wants to be a TORY MP, enough said for me.
Thanks for everything and GOODBYE !!
GOODBYE….SHE WILL SUIT POLITICS AS THEY ALL TELL LIES. SHE WILL FIT IN WELL
I know someone who interviewed KB and she didn’t even know where her kids school was.
That’s what we’re dealing with here.
A self-serving old bag.
Fingers crossed she leaves.
I think a lot of Hammers fans need to wake up..we need to leave Upton Park for a bigger better newer and easier stadium to get to..and increased capacity..i for one have had enough of being a yoyo club, and after 49 years of supporting this great club, i want SUCCESS..this board has been good for this club, Sam has been good for this club..if you want crap like Curbishley or Grant type managers at this club, and crap second tier players playing then great..i of one dont any more. COYI..
I think your find the two David’s employed that crap manager Avram Grant
Good riddance, the sooner the better!
Well she ain’t done bad up till now in my book sound footing for whu coyi
I think the two David’s and Brady have done a exceptional job so far, I’m starting to like S.A even though still not sure of his tactics sometimes but they are all getting results on and off the field.
New stadium to come can only be a good thing. New kit looks decent for the 1st time in years and with the dept coming down as well as spending on good players the future is looking good for west ham.
I think she’s been amazing for the club. People dislike her because she never displays any vulnerability which is a cardinal sin for a woman in some men’s eyes. The deal she struck on OS took woman balls too. She does make me feel I want to hide under a table sometimes though.
A friend of mine works for the solicitors that defended spurs on the OS they said KS won that stadium bk for west ham and she come down on spurs like a ton of bricks.
I would miss her association with it yes. I am a girl who is suffering from a serious illness and need corrective surgery in America for it, this proposed surgery, costing anything between $200,00-$500,000, and I chose Karren (for a few reasons) to help me. As a result I saw her amazing home and also (as I failed the 1st time to see her personally) turned up at an event she was attending in Telford. But I could only manage to mumble a few words (I’m normally a chatterbox)! to tell her about it all. However I did give her (well her minder took it) a gift with letters in telling her all about my illness. I just hope (and pray) she helps me. PLEASE Karren if you see this, it’s the dark-haired girl who came upto you upset, get intouch. All the best with the politics thing too!. Love Shameme x