Sullivan And Gold Take Over West Ham United

Dean Nicholas
By Dean Nicholas Last edited 170 months ago
Sullivan And Gold Take Over West Ham United

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Photo / Egghead06
A statement is expected imminently to confirm that businessmen David Gold and David Sullivan have taken a 50% controlling stake in West Ham United, as part of a £105 million deal.

The pair have courted the club for months, and emerged victorious in a three-way tussle to take the financially troubled Londoners off the hands of CB Holdings. Air Asia boss (and Hammers fan) Tony Fernandes had hoped to buy the club outright but was unable to secure funding, meaning that half of the club will remain the concern of Icelandic bank Straumur. Gold and Sullivan will join the board, and will also recruit their old Birmingham City running mate, Karren Brady, as vice-chairman.

Off-field security should help matters on field, where boss Gianfranco Zola's side lie dangerously close to the relegation trapdoor; indeed, Zola's position at the club will be determined by how the team performs between now and May, with Mark Hughes rumoured as a replacement should things not proceed well. Hammers fans will be happy that a local lad is behind the purchase, but will hope that history doesn't repeat itself: the last time the name Gold was involved in buying a London club, it was Mark Goldberg at Crystal Palace, who in his short tenure led the club into bankruptcy.

Last Updated 19 January 2010