“Next 24 hours’ claim made over Staveley deal at West Ham | Source reveals timeline reality

Claims are coming thick and fast this morning over Amanda Staveley’s consortium and the possibility of an agreement to hoover up the Vanessa Gold shares, ever since the spotlight was shone on West Ham’s boardroom dealings by the SKYsports article and subsequent national newspaper pieces this morning.

What is true is that the Hammers’ board have not yet acted on Daniel Kretinsky’s statement of last month that shares would be transferred to make him the largest investor: So with inactivity reigning there is ample fuel for speculation. Just this morning former SUN journalist Alan Nixon, writing on his Patreon page suggested:

“Staveley close to winning Gold medal at West Ham”

With the inference that a deal – apparently worth £160 million for Gold’s shares, could be finalised within the next 24 hours.

This would value the club at around £640 million, meaning Sullivan’s 38% shareholding under the same calculation would currently be worth £243 million. Some sources are even saying Stavely would then ‘take aim’ at Sullivan’s shares after buying the Gold family’s 25% (WestHamZone)

Our own Claret and Hugh source, close to West Ham and several of the players, disputes these claims, owing to knowledge of the situation and the complexities of the board’s processes, claiming that any deal is: ‘months away, literally months away‘ as any share disposal has to follow a set process allowing existing shareholders the option to take up the shares at the same price first.

Whatever the outcome it seems that events in the boardroom will again threaten to overshadow the club’s preparation for a crucial season: Player signings are paramount but you’d not know it from the headlines this morning.