Clearly, two entrepreneurs battling for shares in West Ham United is about much more than just their love of football and this corner of east London.
Daniel Kretinksy and Amanda Staveley’s tussle for the ‘available’ 72% shares in West Ham United – the combined totals of Sullivan, the Gold family and the others – is as much about future potential value as about the football club itself.
Daniel Kretisnky has big plans to revamp the London Stadium
The demise of Sullivan as Chairman has, no doubt, been the trigger for Staveley’s opportunism, but the bigger picture and the main prize for both is surely the London Stadium itself or more specifically, the prime development land which surrounds it.
Staveley – looking for a ‘property based’ investment
As revealed in the Sun.ie today Mayor Sadiq Khan has admitted as much: Anything which saves it’s owners the eye watering £20 million annual operating loss will be welcomed with open arms:
“WEST HAM could finally be given the chance to take control of the London Stadium after London Mayor Sadiq Khan signalled he would welcome talks over the club buying its controversial home.
..The door has now been left open for future discussions over the stadium’s ownership, with Khan’s office indicating it would be prepared to consider proposals that offer better value for taxpayers.
The London Stadium has long divided opinion among supporters since West Ham moved from Upton Park in 2016, with many fans criticising the vast former Olympic venue for its atmosphere and distance between the pitch and the stands.”
Whilst the timing may be terrible for West Ham the football club, for the medium and long term fans should surely welcome anything which has the possibility of simultaneously divesting David Sullivan of his involvement with the club and a new future with redevelopment of the whole area and – yes, why not speak of it – a whole new compact, purpose-built 50 or 60,000 seater stadium somewhere down the line. Be careful what you wish for indeed.