Sullivan Locked Out of West Ham Board Despite Increasing Stake

By Kris Gonzo | Senior West Ham Columnist (Follow on X)

David Sullivan will not be allowed any operational control of West Ham despite increasing his shareholding in the club, Claret & Hugh has been informed within the last few moments.

The clarification follows an understandable backlash among Hammers supporters following today’s revelation that Sullivan has increased his stake to approximately 40%.

Given the strength of feeling towards West Ham’s former chairman, the prospect of Sullivan increasing his ownership of the club was always going to cause considerable concern.

However, C&H has now been given important information regarding exactly what the change in shareholding means.

“Sullivan will have no operational role in running West Ham and will not be returning to the club’s board”.

Sullivan Will Not Return To West Ham Board

Sullivan stepped down from the West Ham board earlier this summer and, despite increasing his financial interest in the club, we’ve been told there is no intention for that situation to change.

In other words, owning more of West Ham does not mean Sullivan is returning to his previous position of influence over the day-to-day running of the football club. Whether that information helps the clubs situation is open to debate. Most fans we’re looking forward to the future in which the disgraced former chairman played no part.

After years of protests and growing dissatisfaction with Sullivan’s stewardship, the sight of his percentage increasing at precisely the moment many supporters hoped his influence was diminishing was never going to go down well.

Indeed, C&H revealed in June that Sullivan had been encouraged by his fellow shareholders to resign his executive position.

At the time, we were assured Sullivan had nothing further to do with the running of West Ham United.

We’re now being told that remains the case.

Křetínský To Become Largest Shareholder

Claret & Hugh has also been informed that Daniel Křetínský will emerge from the current transactions as West Ham’s largest shareholder.

Once all of the share transactions have been completed, the club are expected to confirm the make-up of the new board and the positions held within it.

That should provide considerably more clarity about where power actually sits at West Ham following the conclusion of the pre-emption process.

There are still plenty of questions surrounding the ownership structure, not least what happens next with Amanda Staveley following her attempt to purchase the Gold family shares.

C&H has previously revealed that Staveley was prepared to pursue Sullivan’s shares should her route through Vanessa Gold be blocked.

But today’s Sullivan development needs some context.

Supporters are perfectly entitled to be stunned and shocked that an unpopular former chairman has increased his ownership of West Ham.

However, according to the information given to C&H tonight, that increased shareholding will not come with a return to operational power.