West Ham United have confirmed that Joint-Chair David Sullivan has stepped down from his position with immediate effect on the official club website this morning.
Mr Sullivan has also resigned as a director of both WH Holding Limited and West Ham United Football Club, having been made aware of the impending publication of serious historical allegations. It is understood that none of the allegations relates to West Ham United or any of its operations.
Through his own legal representatives, Mr Sullivan denies any illegal conduct and has taken the decision to step down in order to avoid disruption to the Club while he addresses the matter privately.
Interim Chief Executive Officer Karim Virani, reporting to the current Board of Directors, will continue to be responsible for leading the Club’s day-to-day operations. The Club will provide an update on the future structure of the Board of Directors in due course, but will make no further comment at this time.
Sullivan is reported to be the subject of a BBC Panorama documentary due to be broadcast on Monday
His legal representatives have made a statement stating
“I have recently become aware that factually incorrect and entirely false, decades-old allegations concerning my personal life are due to be broadcast and published.
“The false allegations levelled against me have been sensationalised by the media. After a lifetime spent building businesses in the adult industry, in which I have met thousands of women, it is sadly inevitable that a small number of improper conduct claims are being made against me.
“I categorically deny these claims.
“I am a private man, and those who personally and professionally know the real David Sullivan, not the caricature invented by the tabloids, know exactly who I am and what I stand for. I am absolutely not the person the media has decided to paint me as.
“I have not been provided with any proper explanation as to how these individuals or their claims were independently verified or assessed for credibility prior to publication. I believe that the entire process has been fundamentally unfair and completely lacking in any due impartiality. I will be suing the BBC for libel, along with any other media outlet that repeats any libellous allegations.
“None of these allegations relate to my more than 30 years in football; West Ham United has been one of the greatest passions and privileges of my life. I care deeply about the club, its supporters, its players, its staff, and its future. At what is already a challenging and important time for the club, I refuse to allow personal matters concerning me to become an unnecessary distraction or a source of instability.
“Therefore, after very careful consideration and with a heavy heart, I have decided to resign as Joint-Chair and Director of West Ham United FC with immediate effect.
“This has been an incredibly painful decision to make, but it is one made out of love, respect, and responsibility toward a football club and a fan base that deserve absolute unity and focus moving forward.
“I am stepping down to apply my full energy and attention on fighting these false allegations. I have officially engaged my legal team and we are preparing to issue legal proceedings in respect of each and every false complaint that has been made against me. I will be seeking full redress, legally and publicly, on every single front.
“As I depart, I want to thank everyone connected with West Ham United, past and present, for the loyalty, friendship, memories and European adventures and successes that I will carry with me forever. West Ham United will always remain close to my heart, and I have total confidence that the Board of Directors and interim Chief Executive Officer Karim Virani will do everything they can to take the club forward in the right direction. I wish everyone connected with the club every success in the future.
“I will not be making further public comment at this stage, but I reserve all legal rights available to me in relation to any false or defamatory allegations.”
Well, most of you fans have got what you wanted. Let’s see if the future brings the positive changes you have all been calling for. Fingers crossed
Our prayers have been answered. Perhaps there is a footballing God ⚒️⚒️
Will wait and see what happens, to Gold and Sullivan am grateful for what they did to stabilise us after it looked like we could go out of business after the Icelandic forays.
The credit though stopped long ago and they have set us back for many years to the point I and many others stopped renewing our season tickets or took other actions to do what we could to protest in what felt at times like a forlorn effort.
Whomever is responsible for this reporting am grateful that they have given us the opportunity of a fresh start, it will no doubt present problems and if it is Kretinsky I hope he can find the right structure and mgmt team to rebuild us and grow us as a club.
We have the fanbase, we have the academy now we need the new ownership to take us forward on and off the pitch.
Maybe they can succeed in upgrading the training facilities, the stadium and the commercial aspects of the club that will help us rise again COYI!!!
Character and life assassinations by BBC and Panorama are disgraceful an totally unnecessary.
It is very sad that this has led to the resignation of our long time benefactor and West Ham fan, David Sullivan.
I hope that he gets swift resolution to his current hiatus and is able to finally retire with the dignity his service to our club deserves.
You are an absolute disgrace, you defend the indefensible. I hope Panorama comes after you next
agreed. Taffy is certainly the right title for them. what an irresponsible and inaccurate remark
See you and your gang outside in the car park now Iris.
Bring your handbags.
Whatever he has or hasn’t done is down to him to deal with. What is important is that he no longer associated with the club. It’s been a long time coming, a footballing dictatorship that has destroyed the club.
I’m not interested in his personal life and if he has done any wrong doing then let justice be delivered. As a fan of West Ham, which this forum is about, I for one think his resignation is the best news ever.
“Be careful what you wish for”, yep wishes come true. Good riddance Sullivan, and whatever ups and downs we have now you’re gone are well and truly worth it.
I suppose that explains his reticence in publishing a new share issue. If he really loves the fans, perhaps he will do the decent thing and sell his shares off at a good discount to the fans, so that eventually we can become a club owned by those that care about it like the Barcelona model
He’s still the major shareholder and just so everyone is clear ….
The shareholders appoint the board !
Has anything actually changed ?
Krestinky has had years to buy the gold shares and become the majority shareholder , but he has shown no interest!
Why would he now ?
I’m not convinced he’s the answer at all ! Hopefully I’m wrong but I still remember the biscuit Barrons !!
He dosnt care about the players or fans..just the value of them financially.
If he wanted what was best for the club he would have quit 8 weeks ago and gave the whole club a massive boost in the survival race. In my eyes he is a parasite that has sucked the life out if our club.
The weather hasn’t been great this week and won’t be for at least another BUT what a silver lining.
Hope the door dosnt hit you on the way out.
Goodbye and good riddance.
Well hasn’t that been a long time in reaching the eventuality that at least some of us knew absolutely ages ago? In the interim the club has languished, suffered and stagnated, falling years behind our contemporaries.
History won’t reflect Sullivan’s tenure kindly.Never an individual who had the club’s interests at heart whatsoever, putting himself and his financial concerns front and centre of business at each and every turn.
What happens next?
Whatever it may be, it cannot be anything other than a drastic improvement for all concerned in any capacity with the club.
With regard to the (alleged) misdemeanours, may the legal system do it’s job thoroughly and record the right and proper verdict and any consequences this may elicit.
Goodbye Mr Sullivan and good riddance.
About time…..now watch all his “friends” in the media ditch him and pretend they were with the fans and the protests…yeah we no who you are and not forget.
Well that’s a shock. However in this case I probably would side with Sulivan. From what I can see as usual with the BBC he has no chance to challenge the allegations or explain them to the BBC. The BBC is now well known for getting facts wrong recently on several occasions, but they will proceed as usual and if they are wrong the damage to the individual or company etc is already done. Then when they are wrong you have to search for their apology where it should be given the same broadcast time and places as the original claims.
My understanding is this program has already been delayed a number of times but is likely to be aired on Monday ( now we know why Karren left in a hurry )
These historical allegations do the club no favours at all. Sullivan remains a major shareholder as do the Gold family who would love to sell there shares. Unless Kretinsky wants to buy them all out and run it professionally I can’t see an easy way out of this mess
It is one of those times I regret living in the Midlands. I imagine there will be quite a party in the east end tonight.
“Avoid disruption to the club” – is he having a bubble ??
He disrupted the club the day him and the wicked witch walked through the door !
AT LAST
Let’s see if Mondays BBC Panorama is aired. You can bet that injunctions will be in place for legal reasons.
It’s not 1st April is it?
At last he’s come to his senses or are there some home truths about to be disclosed.
The fly on the wall could be about to open up.
If true what a traumatic season this will be.
Watch this space, Kretinsky open your wallet.