Having resigned from West Ham’s board and as co-chairman, many had assumed that David Sullivan would fade into the background after the allegations made against him by the BBC’s Panorama programme in June.
Pretty much everything at West Ham seems to have changed in a tumultuous four months: However, news today comes from the telegraph.co.uk that West Ham’s former Chairman is launching his own fight back against the BBC, whose story precipitated the whole investigation by both Police and the Independent football regulator:
“David Sullivan sues BBC for £150m over sexual misconduct claims”
Runs TheTelegraph exclusive this morning, continuing:
“Telegraph Sport can reveal West Ham United’s co-owner is on the brink of lodging a High Court claim for libel and aggravated damages almost three months after the airing of Predator: The Billionaire Football Boss.
Sullivan revealed two days before the programme that he would be “suing the BBC for libel” in a statement in which he also announced his resignation as co-chairman and director of West Ham.”
Good news for the lawyers, bad news for West Ham United football club, you’d think, as despite Sullivan’s resignation from the board, the club continues to be associated with their 38-40% shareholder who may no longer wield power in the boardroom but is still a huge stakeholder in the football club.
A high profile libel case would surely only create further unwanted noise associated with the club at a time in which the new-era Hammers board is trying to look to the future.
David Sullivan denies all of the allegations made against him.