West Ham United co-chairman David Sullivan has shut down rumours linking him with a takeover of Italian side Hellas Verona.
Sullivan was linked with taking charge of the Serie A club by Italian outlet L’Arena, who claimed that the Hammers’ owner was spotted in the city that he supposedly admires.
Speaking to Claret and Hugh, Sullivan immediately shut down the rumours, claiming that he hadn’t even been to Italy for many years, never mind Verona – a place he has admittedly never visited.
“There’s not even 1% truth in it,” said the Hammers chief.
“I have not been to Verona in my life and not been to Italy for years. You wonder where these stories come from!”
The former Birmingham City co-owner gained ownership of the Hammers in 2010 when he and David Gold secured a 50% holding which gave them full control of West Ham.
OPINION
Sullivan looks to be as bewildered as many West Ham fans were when they saw the news break that he could be interested in taking charge of Verona. The move itself would make zero sense as well, with Sullivan just having helped seriously back manager Manuel Pellegrini in back-to-back summer transfer windows where he sanctioned three club-record signings. To financially help your side and then look to acquire another club would go against building a sustainable business model for the Hammers. Given the fact that Sullivan has spoken out about it, the rumours have immediately been shut down and both West Ham and their co-chairman can continue to look forward and push towards their goal of European qualification, something that needs working on – especially after their 5-0 thrashing at home against Manchester City on Saturday. Both Sullivan and Gold usually take on clubs together, after going from Birmingham to West Ham, and the fact that Gold wasn’t even mentioned in the Italian claim could all but prove that he remains happy in East London.
