By Kris Gonzo | Senior West Ham Columnist (Follow on X)
The latest ownership revelations surrounding West Ham are the only thing which make any sense at the moment.
It was back in June when the newly constructed West Ham board released a statement outlining plans for Daniel Křetínský to acquire 43% of the club’s shareholding. That would involve purchasing Vanessa Gold’s 15% stake, making him the most influential shareholder ahead of David Sullivan, who currently holds 38%.
However, nearly two months have passed with no indication that Křetínský is any closer to increasing his slice of the pie or, indeed, injecting the much-talked-about £90 million into the club from his own finances.
In many respects, it’s all gone quiet on the Křetínský front, and that silence has coincided with West Ham’s inactivity in the transfer market.
Of course, plenty of Hammers fans have said there’s nothing to worry about. But as things stand, I’ve already questioned why everything has gone so quiet, and Nuno Espírito Santo looks set to take his side into the club’s final pre-season friendly without a single new signing.
That alone is enough to have supporters asking questions.
Vanessa Gold could now sell to Staveley
Staveley changes the picture
The earlier revelation from Sky News that Amanda Staveley is looking to buy Vanessa Gold’s shareholding suddenly makes a lot more sense.
If the report is accurate, it would point towards Daniel Křetínský not becoming the dominant shareholder at West Ham after all.
If that’s the case, then all of the previous plans and promises effectively go out of the window.
Two weeks ago, Claret & Hugh exclusively revealed the Reuben brothers were eyeing a stake in West Ham. That story now carries a lot more weight given Staveley’s continued involvement and her long-standing relationship with the billionaire brothers.
The pieces are beginning to fit
David and Simon Reuben are British billionaire businessmen who have worked closely with Staveley at Newcastle United and on numerous other business ventures.
As Claret & Hugh revealed, the pair were heavily involved in the regeneration of the Olympic Village in Stratford and retain significant property interests in the area.
Whether all of this ultimately comes to fruition remains to be seen.
But if the reports are accurate, I’d expect events to move very quickly indeed.
Thought Staveley’s consortium hope to buy into the club, pre-emption rights means that West Ham’s other major shareholder, Daniel Kretinsky, has first option to purchase the shares ahead of external parties.
He and Vanessa Gold had previously released a joint statement in June saying the Czech billionaire, who owns a 27 per cent stake in the club, had agreed a deal to purchase some of Gold’s shares to increase his standing to “approximately 43 per cent”.
These rumours could explain the delays in Kretinsky buying the Gold shares. However, I’m not sure the attraction to Staveley in getting 25.1% shareholding. Influence but no control, unless the Kretinsky/Stavely alliance comes to being.
I wonder if when kritinsky flew bowen out to Prague. Staveley was there aswell telling bowen what the ambition was.
Would be a sensible way forward for Staveley to buy out Sullivan. Then Reuben brothers well placed to buy stadium as already own real estate nearby. Suspect London Mayor is getting fed up with annual subsidy of £19million and likely to increase now we are in Championship.
Might it mean that if Staveley buys in it will leave Kretinsky with the means to buy some of Sullivan’s holding? No idea, but I cling to the hope that they are smart people who realise that we have to get promoted or Bowen, Dinos etc will be off and getting back will get alot harder. I am now anticipating more loans than signings, not necessarily a bad thing if we get decent quality.
If Staveley buys Gold’s 15% share instead of Kretinsky, then who takes the club forward? Sullivan would still be the biggest shareholder despite having no part in running the club
Patience guys Rome was not build in one day.
It’s speculation but I can tell you now unless we make good signings we will struggle for promotion. On the face of it nothing has changed with recruitment . Slow ponderous and worrying . So whoever in in control needs to sit up and take notice if you don’t recruit we will stay in the championship which affects revenue and decreases the value of the club . Someone on the board must have business nouse and need to wake up. Lack of incoming signings will hurt your own purses , the fans , players & club overall . From this fan it is not good enough
Whatever the final outcome is will it all happen quick enough to get signings in for start of season.
Or have fans been duped?
Most of whom won’t really understand high finance technology and just want a successful team.
It’s speculation but I can tell you now unless we make good signings we will struggle for promotion. On the face of it nothing has changed with recruitment . Slow ponderous and worrying . So whoever in in control needs to sit up and take notice if you don’t recruit we will stay in the championship which affects revenue and decreases the value of the club . Someone on the board must have business nouse and need to wake up. Lack of incoming signings will hurt your own purses , the fans , players & club overall . From this fan it is not good enough
Did Kretinsky ever really want to own West Ham. Even prior to this news he only wanted 48% under the plans that he made public, he never wanted 51% and total control. Maybe he’s perfectly okay just being a shareholder under a new consortium takeover. He has been described for a long time as just a business investor.
It’s all just speculation at the moment & let’s face it, it wouldn’t be West Ham if it was all plain sailing & straightforward anyway!
The lack of signings is worrying though, but even without any at all we should still finish mid-table or maybe just about make the play-offs! 🤭 ⚒⚒⚒🏴