By Kris Gonzo | Senior West Ham Columnist (Follow on X)
Daniel Křetínský is reportedly set to become West Ham’s largest shareholder following the pre-emption process surrounding Vanessa Gold’s shares, but for me there is another development which completely overshadows that news.
David Sullivan has increased his shareholding.
Reports suggest Křetínský will rise to 46%, Sullivan to 40% and Tripp Smith to 11%, with a club statement expected shortly.
Sullivan Is Not Going Anywhere
In this video, I explain why I find Sullivan increasing his stake particularly sickening.
Only in June, Claret & Hugh revealed Sullivan had been encouraged to resign his executive position, with the other major shareholders seemingly attempting to distance West Ham from him.
Many supporters hoped that represented the beginning of the end.
Instead, Sullivan has apparently gone from 38.8% to 40%.
Those aren’t the actions of somebody winding down his involvement. They look like the actions of somebody emboldened enough to stick around.
I discuss whether Sullivan could now attempt to regain an executive position or restore his family’s influence on the board, and what all of this means for Amanda Staveley’s attempts to enter West Ham.
For me, what should have been an exciting day marking Křetínský becoming the largest shareholder instead feels like a very dark one.
Gonzo on a quick glance it appears Sulivan is staying, but he may have took on the extra shares with the hope of making extra cash from selling them to Staveley. After all she wants in and Sulivan doesn’t necessarily want out, so that means Staveley will have to pay top dollar, more shares more profit!
We need the regulator to do its job and remove Sullivan.
The regulator probably can’t move until the police investigation is complete. Kretinsky has only bought 21% of the Gold shares, Sullivan appears to have bought 2% and Tripp the other 2% which leaves the 2% that Kretinsky wants to sell to his mate. Perhaps that has been ok’d with none of the other share holders wanting it? What a mess, I guess Sullivan wants Staveley to buy out his now 40% at an extortionate price
Sullivan plus Smith now own a combined 51% majority.
Sounds like trip smith holds the key, staverly buys sullivan shares and trip smiths unless kretinsky buys more with his option. If he doesn’t will still make loads if the stadium is redeveloped.
Watching the video I feel for you Gonzo and every fan. We need Sullivan gone for good . Maybe Stavely will buy him out and run the club with kritensky . That’s the best we can hope for.
The Sphinx with Tripp Smith will have control. Sullivan is just a shareholder and your naive if you didn’t expect him to increase his shareholding it was a no brainer and puts him prime position to sell his full 40% once we are back in the Premier and then and only then will we be finally shut of him..
My worry is that now the Sphink has control we won’t see Staveley again and her involvement would have lifted everyone
Don’t understand how Mr Sullivan has gone from 38 to 40%, not how you and all the other financial experts have explained it to us peasants over the last few months. For all the so called ITKs, who have the crystal balls, what’s round the corner
It’s easy you don’t have to take up your full rights. The harder question is why he only took it to 40%. If it was lack of cash flow why bother at all?
Suspect Sullivan is eyeing a big pay day as Amanda Staveley’s crew are likely to pay more for his shares than anything Kretinsky is willing to do.
The key is whether Khan will play ball with selling stadium and surrounding land to Staveley. Its the land area where the money is. The stadium should cost a quid as its losing £19million a year.
So has the regulator concluded their investigation? This is so bad for the club that this odious little man is allowed to remain as a shareholder. Like many others, I thought back in June that we had seen the end of Sullivan and his sons. I feel the same as you do Gonzo and absolutely sickened by his ongoing presence. Hope the fans give him an appropriate reception every time he appears in the stadium. No wonder this was a fairly poor transfer window. Sullivan was clearly all over it.
It’s a blocking tactic to ensure Staveley and her crowd are able to buy a controlling stake and in turn buy out Sullivan, Smith & co to get there. I predicted and wrote pretty much the same scenario a few weeks back. If behind the scenes Staveley has approached all the other shareholders about buying their shares, they would have been driving hard bargains on share price but in return for those prices she would have no doubt asked for those other shareholders to oblige in blocking out DK and helping her to become the controlling shareholder. This will go on and on in further rounds until all is settled. Sullivan and Smith will also take small chunks of the “Czech mates” offer to DK, however that plan no longer needs to happen as it appears DK is further short of where he needs to be.
When all is wrapped up I would predict Staveley holding 52% of the shared and control of the club.
An extra 2% means nothing for Sullivan it gives him no control and he knew that. His 2% was effectively bought on behalf of Staveley.
Highly unlikely as Tripp-Smith is aligned with Kretinsky
Truth be told it seems to me, there is no disputes and Sullivan is just ensuring no interference in the club by Staveley.
It is truly horrendous, for the club, the fans and the alleged victims.
What does it actually change? He can’t get back onto the Board without Kretinsky and Tripp-Smith agreeing as they hold the power at 57%. The IFR had no powers to stop his purchase,
but they can enforce a sale if he is formally charged. He might sell to Staveley, but her consortium investors owning 40% serves them no purpose as Kretinsky and Tripp-Smith will still be calling the shots.
What I can’t fathom is why he increased his holding by only 2%. As the largest shareholder he could have increased it by another c.10.6%.
I can’t see how there wasn’t some kind of dialogue between the current owners. My fear is he has been found innocent or insufficient evidence for a prosecution and then it would be hard to prevent him re-joining the Board, but even that raises the question that if it is the case he would surely have taken his full allocation to re-take control?
Disgraceful gonzo.l like u video.how we all feel he laughing at us like sticking up 2 fingers m8.
Do you think this is part of a ploy to sell his and Trip’s shares to Staveley ? Maybe just me but is it a coincidence that his and Trips share add up to 51% !
If Staveley wants the club. She can no purchase sullys 40 and Smiths 11 per cent and have control of the club.
That means Sullivan & Smith hold 51% of the shares so Staveley (or whoever she is fronting for) soul go for them