The club’s forthcoming move to the Olympic Stadium, and subsequent investment that is due to be pumped into West Ham United over the coming years, is undoubtedly a statement of intent from a board who want to help the club evolve and progress.
David Gold, David Sullivan and Karren Brady have come under much scrutiny in recent times, with many supporters claiming they are simply waiting to cash in and sell up once the move is complete – claims they have each categorically denied both on Twitter (Gold), and in the press. Although I am a firm believer that the trio will sell up when the time is right, I do not believe that their sole ambition in pursuing this transition was a huge pay day, and I am in no doubt that they have the club’s best interests at heart when it comes to decisions and future projects.
David Sullivan has recently been quoted stating his desire to turn West Ham into a ‘top six club’ in the near future, also admitting, however, that it will undoubtedly be a “huge, difficult task”. However difficult the task and ambitious the plans, Sullivan is right in saying that we shouldn’t “just look to stay up” anymore, and should instead strive to progress, even if it doesn’t pay off. The board have received their fair share of stick since taking over the club, but we must not forget the work the trio have done in ensuring our stability and future, following the disastrous spell under Eggert Magnusson who notched up debts of over £100m and according so Sullivan, left the club “on its last knees” financially.
You look at the likes of Portsmouth who have experienced a rapid deterioration into the depths of English football in a short space of time, and I for one am grateful we managed to secure such experienced businesspeople as owners before it was too late. The difference between our financial position and insecurity following Magnusson’s reign and nowadays is astronomical. Although we still have huge debts to pay off, particularly following the board’s decision earlier this year to take out additional loans thus taking our debt to around the £70m mark, I am in no doubt that the Olympic Stadium move will assist the club in reaching the next level and ensure an immense increase in revenue.
Whatever the trio’s intentions, it cannot be denied that in pursuing them, our club is going to have the best chance of growing, progressing and consistently competing amongst the elite in English football. Let me know your thoughts – is the criticism of Gold, Sullivan and Grady justifiable, or do you think they genuinely have the club’s best interests at heart?
Put quite simply – no. Some people just can’t be satisfied. If the move didn’t happen, we’ll forever be a mid table club with a mid table budget, and people would complain that we aren’t ambitious. The move gives us the opportunity to increase revenue and attract better players. Even if they were to sell up after the move, so what? The amount of help they’ve given us, I think they can do what they want. Alternatively you could have an owner like Vincent Tan who runs a club into the ground or Assem Allam who is more concerned with a name change than making real progress for the club. I’d ask those who are criticising the owners what/who they would like in instead?
I agree 100 per cent.
Well said !!
Nice balanced article Callum. Clearly for these guys they are not so rich that they can afford to treat the club as a plaything but I do think they are the best owners I have ever known.
Actually trying to run the club as a business makes sense to me.
Ask Leeds or Pompey fans what they think about clubs over extending themselves. In my view we were close to going in that direction when these guys came in.
But whether they will cash in short term or long term, they are business men and its an investment first and foremost but I think one with some emotional investment too.
COYI for next season.
Well said Callum , spot on !
These guys have backed the club to the hilt. They realize also that in using a conservative ( defence/survival first) mentality with the OS on the horizon they have risked long term damage to the West Ham brand which even post Judas Redknapp (now I’m at a big club…Spurs)… and Pardew (FA Cup 2006) were still respected for playing attractive football. Some owner’s egos are too big to admit a mistake. Not these guys. Getting hands on the transfers shows a willingness to help Sam deliver whilst sharing the responsibility for re-building the team.The Gollivans get a lot of credit but not enough operationally goes to Brady on the day to day. Last look at the books a few years ago showed an operating profit for the first time in years. Too many misogynists out there who don’t want to admit her hands on role in OS bid was key to our future becoming a permanent, high revenue top 6 side in an iconic world top 20 stadium.
My main issues are not really with the Owners
more the way information on what is actually happening is disseminated
(or not) through what seems a lacklustre Press Office, or even worse
young Jack who I think from time to time is used to obfuscate the issues of the day.
A lot of what Callum said makes sense but a lot of what comes out of the
press office on behalf of the club is cr*p .
The Gollivans along with Karen Brady have steadied the ship and are pointing it in the right direction. We were a shambles before they took over.
Well done sir! A refreshing change!
A nice well balanced article without the usual histrionics blaming them for everything from the cost of living to the world banking crisis and back again!
IMO there has been to much heard from a noisy minority who for whatever reason have taken a huge dislike to BS and the board. Everybody is entitled to their opinion but sometimes I get the impression that some of these avid doubters cannot see the wood for the trees.
Football IS a business! And it was about time west ham woke up to this fact! All the biggest clubs in the world are run this way and their success is due to it.
There has never been a better time go be a west ham fan! We have potentially much to look forward to and I for one can’t wait to see how that future unfolds! COYI!
If you look for the most successful club in Britain then it must be Man Utd. They get 75,000 at most home games, they sell more shirts and merchantise than most clubs I know of yet they are over £650m in debt. I’m not sure that striving to be the best will bring the rewards we expect. I’d be happy to be in 8th to 10th and financially solvent.
100% agree with you, good piece
There is also another good thing about the Dave’s. With them both being passionate West Ham fans, we can be sure that any new potential owners will be scrutinised to a very high level. They are not going to sell us to somebody who will not give a monkey’s about the club itself. Yes they sold Brum to a crook, but that was Brum.