Everton Twist Could Make West Ham Regret Blocking Staveley

By Kris Gonzo | Senior West Ham Columnist (Follow on X)

West Ham’s shareholders wanted Amanda Staveley to look elsewhere after blocking her route into the club. Now she might actually do it.

Hammers News reports that Everton are among the alternative football projects being seriously considered by Staveley and PCP Capital Partners.

There is no suggestion of an offer, negotiation or agreement at this stage. However, Everton’s owners, the Friedkin Group, are reportedly exploring the possibility of attracting significant new investment.

For many West Ham supporters, the prospect of losing Staveley to another English club might feel like a major missed opportunity. I suspect the current Hammers hierarchy would consider it a successful outcome.

West Ham blocked Staveley’s route in

Let us not forget how we arrived here.

West Ham’s existing shareholders exercised their pre-emption rights over Vanessa Gold’s shareholding before redistributing the shares among themselves. As Claret & Hugh revealed, the arrangement left Daniel Křetínský with approximately 46%, David Sullivan on around 40% and Tripp Smith holding 11%.

The outcome was quite clear: Staveley’s immediate route into the football club was blocked.

I don’t believe Sullivan or Křetínský assumed she would wait patiently for another opportunity at West Ham. I think the hope was that she would become bored and scarper.

If she eventually chooses Everton, those responsible for shutting her out will presumably congratulate themselves on a job well done.

Everton offer a very different project

In purely footballing terms, Everton make sense for Staveley.

She has previously spoken about enjoying projects where a football club is underperforming and can be improved. Everton are a Premier League team with a magnificent new stadium, yet they made a complete hash of the most recent transfer window and left themselves with only one available striker.

That presents an obvious football operation requiring better recruitment, leadership and strategic planning. Staveley has already demonstrated at Newcastle United that she can help transform the mood and direction of a club.

However, Everton are completely different to West Ham in one particularly important respect.

Staveley previously spoke about undertaking a “big property play” alongside her next football investment. Her proposed West Ham project was believed to include an interest in the London Stadium and the huge redevelopment possibilities presented by the surrounding land.

We previously reported on Staveley’s potential London Stadium plans, which could have included residential, business and retail development alongside improvements to the football venue.

Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium has already been built. There is also little room around it for significant expansion, removing much of the property opportunity believed to have attracted Staveley’s financial backers to east London.

That contradiction is possibly the most intriguing aspect of this story.

The ideal West Ham partnership is disappearing

My preferred outcome remains exactly the same: Staveley and Křetínský working together, hand in hand, with David Sullivan no longer involved at West Ham.

Staveley would bring football expertise, energy and a hands-on approach. Křetínský could provide financial strength and stability. On paper, their respective qualities could complement one another extremely well.

Instead, Sullivan has increased his shareholding to around 40%, while Křetínský remains below the threshold for outright control. It is difficult to view that outcome as significant progress.

Staveley has made it clear that her ambitions for West Ham remain, but she will not wait forever.

Everton may not offer the same property opportunity, but they can offer Premier League football, their own new stadium and a club requiring investment and improvement.

West Ham’s shareholders wanted Staveley to look elsewhere.