West Ham fans must weigh up a messy divorce
THERE is only one surprise about the vortex of despair that has gripped West Ham United.
That it has taken so long for a support-base as large as the Hammers’ to see what the owners truly are.
That’s no criticism – it took me years to work it out at Birmingham City – and yours truly had privileged access.
They’re monied market traders. Barrow boys made good – for whom the bottom line is the bottom line. And always will be.
In short, David Sullivan rules the roost and makes the big decisions on the running of the club.
David Gold is the public face – wheeled out when a gentle word and avuncular expression is needed in front of a camera.
Karren Brady? Sullivan’s enforcer. If West Ham fans didn’t know what they were getting when the trio walked into Upton Park, they had not done their homework.
Nothing’s changed from the days when they were in charge at St Andrew’s. So, when it boils down to it, what are Hammers’ supporters so upset about?
West Ham and Birmingham are, and were, run for profit.
That’s no shock, surely?
Does it grate when the owners (net worth over £1billion) are paying themselves £38,000-a-week in interest from loans made to the club. Oh yes. Is that illegal? No. Does it fly in the face of what the majority of football club owners do? Oh yes. But whose fault is that? Not theirs.
The problem with this huge upsurge in anti-board feeling is its temporary nature.
In a nutshell, the team is losing games in a stadium most fans despise.
Of course, the issue over the ground is an open sore.
It has eviscerated the club’s soul, diluted the essence of West Ham. Has that anger subsided? No, and it never will.
But, what if Ms Brady is right and 85 per cent of season-ticket holders did vote for the move?
Are the fans actually just still p***ed off that legions of savvy East Enders were sold a pup, right under their noses? That they’ve been mugged off. And no one likes being mugged off, do they?
But then again, if you had the choice of paying a peppercorn rent at a free £1bn stadium, housing 60,000 instead of 35,000, wouldn’t you take it?
And then play it for all it was worth to convince a sceptical audience of its merits. Sullivan, Gold and Brady are visible. They are accountable. They do pay their taxes.
And who else rode to the rescue when the club was on its knees when the Icelandic experiment failed? The
TWEET
OF THE WEEK “English football died last night. A Premier League club refuses to play its first-team, the manager refuses to manage and VAR kills the FA Cup dreams of a smaller club. Football has
eaten itself.” fact is that had Sullivan made better choices in the transfer market and West Ham were sitting eighth in the Premier League there would be no uproar.
The interest on the loans would still be being paid and no one would be making an issue out of it, would they?
So if West Ham’s fans want this fight, then they need it to continue.
In the end, the owners left Birmingham because the relationship between them and the supporters broke down. It became toxic.
So, Hammers fans, if you’re going to be angry, be angry all the time. Don’t just pick and choose the moments when the team are doing badly.
They’re either bad owners. Or they’re not.
And if they’re NOT that bad, save your breath – because as Manchester United and Newcastle United supporters have found out in recent years – it gets you nowhere.
If, on the other hand, they are bad... well, dig in for the long haul – because otherwise it’s a horribly difficult war to win.
Showing respect for the FA Cup and being rewarded with Newcastle’s first fifthround appearance in 14 years.
From the Sports Grounds’ Safety Authority this week which gives the thumbs-up to safe standing.
For taking 1,400 fans to Old Trafford for a youth-team fixture.
WHO’S NOT
Inter Milan star flying a hairdresser 700 miles to Italy – so he could get his signature style.
Operating as a frontline spinner during England’s one-day internationals. Has the country no better option?
Ed Woodward pictured leaving the Premier League meeting on Thursday without having a clue where he was going.
WELL done, Chelsea. Work your socks off to have your transfer ban lifted – and then sign... absolutely no one!