London Stadium Turns On David Sullivan As West Ham Go Down

If David Sullivan was in any doubt about his standing with West Ham fans, it was left in little doubt yesterday as the London Stadium placed the blame for the Hammers’ relegation squarely on his shoulders.

It was quite a spectacle in Stratford, but it quickly became evident that irrespective of West Ham comfortably beating Leeds United, there was little anybody could do to prevent relegation once Tottenham took the lead against Everton over in North London.

At that point, the singing from the home support turned firmly towards Sullivan, with most of the terrace chants completely unprintable on these pages.

But make no mistake about it, by then most of the stadium had turned against the Hammers owner, who was sat in the directors’ box alongside partner Ampika Pickston.

Three Different Atmospheres In One Afternoon

The atmosphere had started in raucous fashion.

West Ham fans entered the game clinging onto the smallest sliver of Premier League hope. Bubbles rang loudly around the London Stadium and there were repeated chants of “Come on you Irons” as supporters desperately tried to believe.

Realistically though, it ended up feeling like three different matches emotionally.

The opening period was full of nervous energy and hope. Then came the second half.

As supporters returned to their seats after the interval, the score remained 0-0 but everyone inside the stadium already knew Tottenham were 1-0 up. In effect, West Ham were relegated.

What followed was one of the strangest atmospheres I’ve ever experienced at a football match.

The Silence Was Eerie

For the opening five minutes of the second half, the London Stadium was almost completely silent. Even the Leeds fans barely made any noise at that point.

I’m not sure I’ve ever heard a football ground that quiet before.

West Ham eventually sparked into life with goals from Taty Castellanos, Jarrod Bowen and finally Callum Wilson.

Wilson’s goal in particular felt surreal because it may genuinely have been one of the best goals I’ve seen at the London Stadium, yet it was barely celebrated and hardly caused a ripple inside the ground because by then everyone knew it meant absolutely nothing.

The game no longer mattered.
The table no longer mattered.
The damage had already been done.

Sullivan Left In No Doubt

By that stage, the crowd had fully turned on Sullivan, who appeared increasingly uncomfortable in his seat as chants aimed towards him intensified.

As supporters sang “David Sullivan, we’re coming for you”, a security guard walked over and spoke to him. One can only imagine what was said.

Underneath the directors’ box there were also numerous banners and signs, all politely encouraging West Ham’s majority shareholder to sell the club.

At the final whistle, Sullivan quickly left his seat rather than remaining to watch the players’ sheepish lap of honour or, like much of the crowd, waiting to see whether there would be any late drama during the nine minutes of stoppage time at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

David Sullivan may not view himself as the architect of West Ham’s downfall. Personally, I genuinely think the deluded chairman believes he’s doing a good job.

But the West Ham support left him in absolutely no doubt yesterday that they believe it is time for him to go.

And they made that opinion known in the loudest possible way.