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.
For WHU and players it is time to batten down the hatches and get on with the job at hand and in true footballing speak, to take it one match at a time😊.
For the future I would prefer DK who has involvement running a football club long-term, as opposed to AS coming in, getting things done quickly of course (she knows her job), so she can leave just as quickly for the next money spinner, leaving the club in the clutches of who knows who.
Hope there is redevelopment, but for the community, with solidly built, affordable housing that does not blow away in a bit of a storm, 4-storey high max. Some glitzy low-level towers allowed, but limited numbers, all with greenery & less cement.
A lovely stadium with a massive standing area at one end and without speakers blaring crap at you at every single 10sec pause,… A stadium designed where the spectacle on the pitch, mates & family are uppermost,..(Don’t mind Gonzo’s iron works concept either, definitely something to work from instead of yet another oddly shaped shiny bowl).
In Summer, sell cut-price outdoor tickets where families can sit on a man-made hill to watch a match LIVE on a big screen while having a picnic, no music, only footballing commentary & family chatter (limited/no alcohol because of kids?). That is one idea. In Winter, fake snow & toboggans races instead. Some things from old stadiums are good, some things from new stadiums are good, some should be junked. Need some original, clever ideas and not all of them futuristic.
All bubbles in the air I know, but since no one asked, I thought I’d say.
While the sharks argue over their kill West Ham, the football club, is being done a massive disservice. Least to blame looks like Kretinsky but who knows the twists and turns behind this saga. Even Sullivan has arrived on the scene again.
But this is all about redevelopment and it’s beyond our control. It smacks of self serving entitlement – and screw the rest of us.
Allegedly, Amanda is offering Sadiq Khan a place on the Board once he gives up his Mayoralship.
That is assuming he doesn’t become our next Prime Minister before then.