West Ham’s quiet boardroom revolution is being carried out away from the glare of publicity in a most – well – ‘un-West Ham like’ manner. No leaks, no constant speculation and no ‘claim plus counter claim’ from the ITK’s: Refreshing or infuriating dependent upon your own standpoint.
“Professional” would be a fair description.
However the PSR clock is ticking and West Ham United, as Matt described last week, have something of a deadline for 30th June.
The club need to submit adjusted accounts for the end of June and it will be the first test for Kretinsky’s new regime. Having stated clearly that the club do not need to sell players this summer, it is likely both Tottenham and Manchester United are hanging back on their Mateus Fernandes negotiations.
Reports circulated last week suggesting that both clubs were waiting to see if the Irons need to grab a ‘cut-price’ deal to balance their PSR position, in much the same way that Aston Villa rushed through a move in 2024 ahead of 30th June as Douglas Luiz completed a £42 million move to Juventus.
Kretinsky’s stance “suggests he’s either a very good poker player or is comfortable with the accounts for last season.” is how C and H described the position last week.
Will the Irons clutch at a deal before 1 July? First test of new-era financial confidence approaches
Either way it is likely to be the first true litmus test of Kretinsky’s stated ambition to hang onto top players. If. a deal is concluded ‘magically’ before 30th June for Fernandes, there’ll be suggestions that the Board was more in need of the cash than they were letting on.
If the 30th comes and goes with no resolution to Fernandes’ transfer then more likely West Ham’s new-era board are true to their word – and the negotiations will continue to be on ‘our’ terms.
That significant ‘win’ will be chalked up to the fledgling ‘Kretinsky- Gold’ administration, outwardly sending a message to the wider footballing world that the Hammers board is staying true to their laudable, ambitious stated financial claims.
Martin
Why do you keep referring to the Kretinsky- Gold era. We are led to believe that Vanessa Gold has been trying to sell the shares she inherited for 3 years. I doubt she wants anything to do with running west ham and would happily have sold all her shares but for some unknown reason Kretinsky is only buying 20%
Or do you know anymore ?
she isn’t selling all of them, ‘Ted”, reportedly keeping about 9 or 10%. Hence Kretinsky needs her support to have a shareholder majority in the boardroom.
Reassuringly different!