By Kris Gonzo | Senior West Ham Columnist (Follow on X)
There is little doubt that the events and media scrutiny surrounding former West Ham chairman David Sullivan over the last few days have strengthened Daniel Kretinsky’s hand in his efforts to take control of the football club.
Monday night’s Panorama documentary was, whilst crass and unedifying, not universally viewed as the knockout blow.
After all, many of the allegations levelled against Sullivan have been around for a long time and were detailed in the 1994 book The Sultan of Sleaze.
Whilst the documentary left me in no doubt about the sleazy nature of some of Sullivan’s former business practices, and I found the Sunday Sport’s practice of celebrating girls approaching their 16th birthday before later displaying them topless particularly distasteful, there was nothing in the programme which pointed towards an ongoing criminal investigation.
Sullivan Looked Like He Might Hang On
As a father of three daughters, Panorama was a difficult watch.
But if I’m being honest, when the programme finished there was still a concern in the back of my mind that Sullivan might attempt to cling on to power and retain his shareholding at West Ham.
At that point, it still felt possible that he would dig his heels in.
However, the events which have followed Monday night’s broadcast have surely made that position increasingly difficult to maintain.
News then emerged that in 2023 Sullivan was restricted from attending West Ham women’s and academy matches whilst the FA investigated a complaint.
Sullivan has since issued a statement insisting the restriction was voluntary and not a disciplinary ban, as some reports have suggested.
But make no mistake about it, the fact that the owner of a football club was discouraged from attending matches involving women and children is, in itself, a very bad look.
And there is little doubt it has already attracted the attention of the football regulator.
The Pressure Continues To Build
Factor in reports that West Ham sponsor BoyleSports is reconsidering its position following the recent revelations and it becomes increasingly clear that fewer and fewer organisations will want to be associated with Sullivan.
At that point, the prospect of any meaningful return to football begins to look almost impossible.
As a West Ham fan, his departure cannot come quickly enough.
Whilst Sullivan has stepped down as chairman and relinquished his executive role, the allegations, scrutiny and controversy surrounding him continue to cast a shadow over the football club.
The Best Outcome For West Ham
If there is any silver lining in this sordid affair from a West Ham perspective, it may be that the events of the last few days finally convince Sullivan that there is no route back.
The best outcome for everybody involved may simply be for him to sell his shares and allow Daniel Kretinsky to take full control.
Because whatever happens next, it is becoming increasingly difficult to see how the current situation can continue indefinitely.