West Ham fans have issued a vote of no confidence against the board of directors in an open letter.
The move follows hot on the heels of Hammers United’s announcement calling for fans to boycott the Premier League game against Brentford. As reported yesterday, the boycott will be preceded by a protest at the directors’ entrance of the London Stadium during the match against Crystal Palace.
London Stadium has large fabric sheets to cover the gaps between tiers
Fan unrest has gained huge traction and mainstream coverage in the past 48 hours following the Hammers United announcement. However, the latest intervention from the Fan Advisory Board (FAB) is set to pile even more pressure on a board that has failed to deliver on the promises made when the club left Upton Park for Stratford.
The FAB statement highlights:
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Vote of no confidence in the Board’s management, representing 25,000+ supporters.
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Concerns that, despite winning a European trophy and selling Declan Rice for £105m, the club is claiming financial distress.
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An ageing, uncompetitive squad, poor scouting infrastructure, and derided training facilities.
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A supporter survey of 9,000+ respondents confirming the London Stadium is the most criticised ground in the country, with a poor matchday experience.
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Broken promises: the move to Stratford was supposed to “take West Ham to the next level,” yet commercial revenues now lag rivals, with Bournemouth, Brighton, Brentford and Crystal Palace outperforming the Hammers both on and off the pitch.
The FAB demands:
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Appointment of professional, full-time executives with proper football and commercial expertise.
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An end to board interference.
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A modern leadership structure, with the club moving away from being an “analogue club in a digital world.”
The FAB confirmed support for upcoming fan protests, stressing they will remain lawful, while warning that the current situation threatens West Ham’s future as a Premier League club.
The move to the London Stadium has failed to yield the financial returns promised
Put up or shut up will be the answer. Why don’t West Ham Fans each put money into a fund to take a stake in WH, or buyout totally. Reason loads of bankrupt West Ham Fans, especially when more cash needed.
Wonder why no Billionaire has brought West Ham.
I’m a casual supporter of West Ham, when back home in Barking, else I watch Roma.
Nice idea but you’d need a hundred thousand WH fans putting six grand in each.
No board interference? They own the club don’t they? How rediculous. Why don’t we just push the self destruct button now.
Our problems go back to Terry Brown who nearly bankrupted us. Then the Icelandics. Current owners saved us. We would have been silly to stay at Boleyn, not big enough. If we had refused Stratford, Tottenham would have moved in. We don’t want Saudi or Americans running our club. Support our club or move on.
Our problems go back to one man Terry Brown, who nearly destroyed us through his own greed. In his own words he was not even a football fan. Current owners saved our club when the Icelandics then went bankrupt. West Ham do a lot of supportive work locally. Perhaps some people want us owned by Saudi murderers or Anerican Mafia like companies? Win or lose support our club or politely leave to support some of the disgusting clubs in the Prem.
Yes, really clever a multi-billionaire and possibly several other Board Members walk out. Where does that leave us, in debt with no one to walk in and take over the reins. Think of what you are doing before you do it.
Who do you think you are? If West Ham are massive then FAB are the polar opposite.
Each unto their own. Much rather our present owners than any financial consortium looking to asset strip or use the club to fund their ‘loans’.
There is no Santa Claus.
Thing is, we’re not massive. We started singing it tongue in cheek. We definitely won’t get any bigger with Sullivan and Brady making the decisions, get some serious people in to run the club
We’re 18th richest club in the world or something and we have sixty odd thousand on a match day. Great as it was at Upton Park in the championship with 18000, 19000 fans attending we have definitely grown as a club. We have a world wide fan base. I’d say we’re massive actually.
Reality is you do not have the power to sack the board. Sullivan is majority shareholder so its up to him if he wants to sell. They are still trying to sell David Gold shares and its rumoured that Kretinsky wants to sell his. Even if we get a mega rich buyer the self anointed big six have trapped the rest of us re FFP rules. Look at Newcastle owned by sovereign wealth fund of Saudi and they can’t keep Isak! Until if and when we can buy the stadium you are whistling in the wind and a by product is destabilising the playing squad.
Yes there is, you just have to believe.
Miracle on Green Street.
What’s the point of boycotting a game, as season tickets have been paid for. It wouldn’t bother them one bit as they’ve already got your money.
I disagree Tony if people just give up their season ticket for a week and don’t re- list it, so they can make more money by selling to a tourist. it will be totally humiliating to Sulivan’s ego to see a game live on sky with no fans there. Remember how people deserted the stadium last year against Arsenal
I would love us to build our own stadium, but I don’t see us ever spending the fortune required to do that while we have the LS.
I also think that the board will take that letter, make a paper aeroplane out of it, and take turns to see who can fly it to the bin from the greatest distance.
Can’t argue with any of this. Before the board lovers come on and say this isn’t gonna help. This is against the board not potter /players . I will be at the protest and after I will be in the ground supporting potter and players.
Very well said by FAB, all points are constructive and on the money.
Don’t understand some fans who are happy for us to limp along under this clown, Sullivan.
Bournemouth, a club with 11,000 gates putting us to shame in every aspect on and off the pitch.
Enough is enough !