By Kris Gonzo | Senior West Ham Columnist (Follow on X)
Amanda Staveley has just sent West Ham supporters a very clear message.
Strip away the PR language and it basically says: I’m still here, I still want your club and I understand what West Ham means to you.
Her latest statement confirms her consortium was unsuccessful in acquiring Vanessa Gold’s 25.1% shareholding.
But there is one detail in there which I think matters far more.
Staveley has revealed that her original offer was not just for Gold’s shares.
It was for David Sullivan’s 38.8% stake as well.
Staveley Wanted Control of West Ham
Put those two holdings together and Staveley’s consortium was not attempting to become another passive West Ham investor.
It was attempting to acquire a majority stake.
That is important because, at the moment, West Ham still don’t appear to have anybody willing to own more than 50% of the football club.
Daniel Křetínský is set to become the largest shareholder at around 46%, following the deal which closed Staveley’s route through the Gold family shares.
David Sullivan is expected to sit at around 40%… a depressing prospect for most Hammers fans.
Yet Staveley’s statement makes it clear that her consortium had been trying to go further than either of them.
She wanted control.
Sullivan could come under pressure from the IFR to sell his shares
This Was a Message to West Ham Fans
I don’t really read this as a shot across the bows of the existing shareholders. I think this was aimed squarely at West Ham supporters.
Staveley talks about the club’s “history, identity” and its “loyal and committed supporters”.
She says her group saw the potential to “rejuvenate the club” and help West Ham compete consistently at the highest level.
That’s very deliberate lingo aimed at the Irons fans.
It’s her way of saying: I understand you.
She also repeatedly references her investment partners, which is another way of reminding supporters that this was not some speculative approach without financial backing.
She wants people to know the money and ambition are there.
Staveley Is Winning the PR Battle
In many respects, Staveley is simply making sure she stays relevant. She wants her name to remain in West Ham supporters’ minds in case another opportunity presents itself.
And she leaves that door wide open by saying her ambitions for the club “remain”.
That makes Daniel Křetínský’s communication with supporters look increasingly poor by comparison.
West Ham’s shareholders recently chose a route which left Staveley outside the club, while reports this week suggest her interest may still be far from finished.
She has also attended a West Ham game this season and is now addressing supporters directly.
Meanwhile, Křetínský has promised an update “in due course”.
That is beginning to feel inadequate.
Whatever anyone thinks of Amanda Staveley as a prospective West Ham owner, there is little doubt who is currently playing the PR game better.
Staveley’s message is clear.
I’m still here. I still want West Ham. And I want the supporters to know it.
Sorry but i wish she would go away and take her money people with her
We don’t know who they are or what their intentions are I believe it’s more about the land than the team and once she earns her money she will do exactly what she did at newcastle sell up and move on even Newcastle couldn’t afford to buy players with the new rules so what good will she be
Staveley is an excellent communicator but I am not aware of anything even approaching detail.
Kretinsky is a virtually a non communicator and other than stating he has plans for the stadium and Rush Green has not provided anything approaching detail.
Either may well prove excellent owners/leaders of the club, both will undoubtedly be better than Sullivan and Brady who have put us in a shocking position.
In the meantime let’s enjoy the football, the goals, no VAR, less “professionalism” (ie wasting time, diving, arguing with the ref) and seeing our youngsters develop to, hopefully, be Prem players. COYI
She is only better than DK at 2 things…..media manipulation and over spending other peoples money
Unfortunately her and her consortium won’t wait around forever. They’ll probably be taking over Tottenham or a team like Charlton or Millwall and absolutely transform them into the next Manchester City while we can only watch on with envy.
This is only the beginning.
Seems like a bias towards Staveley consortium due to Sullivan out to anyone who does not scream a mentalalist.
I would guess 50% only matters if there are disagreements and the 75% is required for full control for special resolutions.
If the club is stable and Sullivan is passive and not interfering then he is just a lingering smell and who cares.
lol this getting ridiculous I’m beginning to think you are paid by the consortium to write these articles (I’m joking of course!). Gonzo it’s over the deal is as dead as the Parrott in Monty Python.
There is absolutely nothing her Consortium can do to change the reality they have been shut out by every shareholder. If Sullivan does sell and I don’t be believe he will unless the IFR forces it the remaining shareholders can easily prevent them for gaining much foothold if any. Sullivan’s holding is a legacy for his sons to own one day and according to companies house Jack is still an active Director even if he is no longer involved in the day to day running of the club.
Everyone wants Sullivan gone, but atm that looks unlikely in the short term or until the current investigations conclude. Sullivan’s holding went to 51% so any thoughts of selling to the consortium would have happened then rather than him immediately sell some to Kretinsky. This couldn’t be a clearer message to Staveley and her statement is more a combination of saving face and hot air before moving on to the next target.
Like I said before, another wealthy person just interested in being wealthier and doesn’t really give a hoot for the traditions and history of the club or it’s supporters. One minute it’s Newcastle and now it’s West Ham. And just like that, she understands what West Ham is all about and what the club’s identity is. Yeah, of course she does…
Did Kretinsky say “in due course” or “ when the paperwork is completed” ? It makes a difference given the slant of your story.
Thats exactly what it is, the slant of a story. Gonzo keeps banging the drum for Staveley for what ever reason, but please dont use your platform to try and sway the rest of us to want Staveley involved. For someone like Staveley who said she respects the club and is open to the opportunity to work constructively with the existing shareholders in the future – subject to us not taking up other opportunities that have been presented to our consortium etc. Its funny how she made her offer to Gold knowing full well it would stop Kretinsky investing the funds to cover exixting debts. That offer and Gold accepting it made sure we had to sell more players to cover debt and generate a smal transfer kitty. So in essence between the pair of them they ruined our transfer window and any plans that had been made. Both more interested in the money than the club. Hopefulyy neither of them are involved in our club in the future.
My question – to which I don’t have the answer – is having been Newcastle’s savior why did she then bail out on them – and how do Newcastle fans feel about her now?
Was she? She was used by very rich investors to be the public face of their bid and her sweat equity in the club came from a loan from some of the other owners. The consortium appointed Eales and Ashworth to actually run the club. Currently the position at Newcastle is turbulent. The wheels haven’t exactly fallen off, but they aren’t in great place atm financially
Just the richest owners in the world. Must be terrible for them.
And how has that wealth benefited Newcastle? It hasn’t. They have breached UEFA financial regs and forced to sell their best players to avoid breaching PSR. Rich owners are useless if the club doesn’t have the turnover to benefit from them
Well nothing will happen until the investigation into Sullivan is done and dusted one way or the other but people like this are used to playing the long game and if it was another share option deal and DK took enough to keep him under the thresh hold and his mate and other got the rest then i think we already know that their is no interest in owning the club outright and just somewhere to park your money and hope it grows if/when we go back up.
I don’t like using the term becareful what you wish for but in this case, it is relevant. AS is really good at PR but she is not interested in WHU. Her consortium is more interested in the land grab that surrounds LS. Like all these billionaires, it is not about the club, it is about how much money you can make out of it. Do you really think that DS and DK will sell considering both of these billionaires are after the same thing? Atheist DK has been managing another football club with a minority stake and doing it well.
Of course the money side is important to them as it is to Kretin and that seems to be hi motivation to keep hold of what he’s got.
More than one thing can be true. She can revive West Ham, love the football side, give the fans what they want, build a new stadium and still be primarily interested in the investment side
And Manchester City’s owners buying up and developing the land around Their stadium was a complete disaster was it?
Yes Jack. A complete disaster for the locals and the Manchester City faithful and fans.
Only success was making the rich richer and elevating Man City to super-team status.
MC still have their 105 cases of rule breaking to answer for due to their financial dealings. The FA are clearly pursuing the Club and individuals with all the effort they can muster. This story is far from over and will make Panorama’s expose of David Sullivan look like a parking fine.