When Stacey Little decided to walk away from West Ham Ladies last night (Tuesday) joined by others later a not unexpected hue and cry was raised about the club’s role in the affair.
But it’s important to put the record straight right away and make it clear that the ladies team is a totally separate organisation to the club itself.
It has a separate management, board and separate funding and in reality the row that broke out between an alleged difference of opinion between the manager Marc Nurse, the chairman Stephen Hunt and six of the first team players has absolutely nothing to do with the club per se.
West Ham Ladies claim the players were released as they were surplus to requirements but Stacey Little denies that saying instead that the players walked after a disagreement with the management.
Calls on social media have already been made to United’s management, including David Gold, David Sullivan and Karren Brady, toto sort the mess out but in reality there is little they can do.
Although West Ham Ladies are listed on the official website and articles are run in order to help promote them, the board have no control over what goes on with them
ClaretandHugh understands the club provide limited resources and funding such as expertise and the kits but West Ham Ladies is largely self funded.
The only possible sanction the club could consider is a request to the Ladies to stop using the West Ham shirts and crest on the grounds that the Ladies club is damaging the West Ham brand reputation.
Chairman Stephen Hunt and manager Marc Nurse have not responded to ClaretandHugh requests for a comment on the situation but on the Ladies official twitter account they say a detailed statement would be released today.
Tommy Wathen who handled the Ladies club’s press, PR, website and social media content has also left the club yesterday citing personal reasons.
Well the fact that Tommy Wathen has gone too, surely shows that the girls hold the moral high ground and there is only one person lying here.
What a lot of tosh. You honestly think that if our DG’s told WHL board/staff to do something they would just be ignored? Sounds like another shambles making the WHOLE club look poorly managed. Sort it out please.
Sorry Sean but that’s akin to the FA’s stance in the 80’s that hooliganism wasn’t football’s problem. The ladies play in our name, and no doubt benefit in some (possibly small, I accept) way from their association with WHUFC. To say our board have no influence over the activities of the Ladies team is, in my humble opinion, nonsense. (No offence meant). If they want to do something (and they must, given the amount of publicity this is getting) to avoid us looking like a shambles there’s nothing to stop them. Set Baroness Brady on ’em!
What part of “it has a separate management, board and separate funding and in reality the row that broke out between an alleged difference of opinion between the manager Marc Nurse, the chairman Stephen Hunt and six of the first team players has absolutely nothing to do with the club per se.” Are you struggling with….??
Probably it’s something to do with the fact that they’re call WEST HAM and play in a WEST HAM kit with a WEST HAM badge on the front – or do you think they have no control over what the ladies call themselves?
I’ll quote the above for you “ClaretandHugh understands the club provide limited resources and funding such as expertise and the kits but West Ham Ladies is largely self funded.
The only possible sanction the club could consider is a request to the Ladies to stop using the West Ham shirts and crest on the grounds that the Ladies club is damaging the West Ham brand reputation”
Imo that really answers your question
When half the team leave, somethings not right, I guess it will all come out with so many emotions high.
I don’t get why people aren’t grasping this. I could go out and set up a West Ham United over 50’s team and call it that. I could buy a load of shirts from the club shop and join a league. Would I then have the right to demand that Gold, Sullivan and Brady got involved in the running of that club, just because I gave it that name and we wore those shirts? Of course I wouldn’t!! Why then do you expect them to get involved in the Ladies team which is run by a totally different group of people?
I know they donate kit & give them the use of the training facilities but they do that out of community involvement, not because of any obligation.
Sorry Ray but West Ham United Ladies FC are a FA Charter Standard Club and play in the FA Womens Premier League – you can’t play in a FA league and wear a WEST HAM kit and not be sanctioned by WEST HAM.
In other words, they give them their blessing, which they do in an implied sense by supplying kit & training facilliites. That still does not give them any control or responsibility over the running of the club. In fact the only thing they could do is to remove the sanction and force them out of business which no one wants to see.
You have alot to say for yourslef on here Douche,considering you said only idiots & Neanderthals comment on here.Guess you have found your level in life you tw#t.
If you call a team West Ham ladies, if they wear your colours, your crest or even your sponsor than people, pundits, fans from other clubs will always associate you with West Ham United, no matter what the ownership and financial arrangements are.
Even if our club hierarchy cannot be blamed they need to consider the reputation and potential media fallout for our club too.
If the Ladies’ club is being run in such an unprofessional manner it will reflect badly on West Ham and the club needs to help putting it right or make sure that the Ladies’ team rename themselves, so they are no longer seen in the public eye as representing West Ham United in any way, shape or form.
They should be taken into the fold and ran as part of the club proper. First team, Lady’s team, Dev Squad and Junior sides all together as a real family & community.
Yep that could be a good call Dainon, Stacey and the others could form a new West Ham ladies team and i am not sure what the other West Ham Ladies could do about it
I wouldnt worry about any media fallout HH.I should think most Irons fans dont even know whats happened let alone your average man on the street,lol
Bottom line is we are lagging behind in ladies football compared to the likes of Chelsea, arsenal , man city etc.
Open the door and let em in. .!!! Do it proper !.
What has dicks said on the matter ?
Be interesting to see the detailed account later !
If you want women west ham fans in the future then bring the women into the fold properly like Chelsea,arsenal,Liverpool citeh etc have. If you don’t have a progressive women’s team in the main setup you hand the initiative and advantage to other London club’s. Expand your thoughts to the bigger picture,,women at the OS are a vital part of the WHOLE club’s development. Ignore at your peril.
Lets be honest in a couple of days 99% of fans wont give a sh#t & will have forgotten about it.
Ignore at your peril,lol.I find it very easy to ignore what you say Rugby.Most of it is BS.