West Ham co-owners David Gold and David Sullivan could have ended up as owners of Premier League rivals Crystal Palace, according to Claret & Hugh.
The pair took over the Hammers in 2010 after previously being in charge of Birmingham City.
But according to a conversation held between Gold and the reliable outlet, things could have been a lot different.
As quoted in the report, he said: “I received a call from the previous owner Simon Jordan who asked us if we would be interested.
“I’m always willing to talk and it might have happened but we then heard this incredible rumour that West Ham was possibly set to enter administration.After that all interest was lost in any other club.
“West Ham was my dream club and within about eight weeks the two of us had taken over and the rest – as they say – is history.”
OPINION
It’s always interesting to think about counter-factual history in football, and it’s mind-boggling to think about the prospect of Gold and Sullivan taking the helm across London at Selhurst Park. For all they owned Birmingham City before the Hammers, they are now intrinsically linked with the Hammers, and it has to be said, it really feels as if they have turned a corner in recent times. It wasn’t too long ago that we had literal uprisings in the stadium, corner flags held aloft in the centre circle and everything. But now, after some inspired signings and the appointment of a world class manager, the Irons look as if they could be genuine contenders for European football. There have been false dawns before, of course, but after a decade of graft and some hard times, this really does seem to be the breakthrough that supporters and board members alike have been craving.
