West Ham United are entering a crucial new chapter following the resignation of longtime co-owner David Sullivan, as the club’s remaining leadership moves quickly to secure stability both on and off the pitch.
The shake-up comes after Sullivan stepped down from his role as joint-chairman last week with immediate effect. He also resigned as a director of WH Holding Limited and West Ham United Football Club after being informed that serious historic allegations against him were set to be published.
Earlier this week, reports from the BBC and The Times detailed claims from seven women accusing Sullivan of sexually exploitative and predatory behaviour. Sullivan has strongly denied the allegations.
In response, West Ham shareholders Vanessa Gold and Daniel Kretinsky released a joint statement outlining the club’s immediate plans and future ownership strategy.
They expressed concern over the allegations and voiced support for the women involved.
“We were deeply concerned by the revelations made by The Times and Panorama this week,” the statement said. “Our thoughts are with those women who have fought so hard to make their voices heard. Any abuse of power is unacceptable, and it takes immense courage to speak up.”
Gold and Kretinsky revealed that the full West Ham board only became aware of the allegations around a month ago, when Sullivan informed them that claims might soon become public. However, they said the full extent of the accusations only became clear after Monday’s reports.
The pair also stated that the board had only recently been informed about safeguarding measures that have reportedly been in place since 2023.
With uncertainty surrounding the club, the focus has now shifted toward rebuilding and strengthening West Ham’s future.
“As shareholders and directors of West Ham, our priority is protecting the future of this football club,” the statement continued. “Our aim is to stabilise West Ham, keep as many key players as possible, and under manager Nuno Espírito Santo, secure an immediate return to the Premier League.”
A major part of that plan involves a significant ownership restructure.
Gold and Kretinsky confirmed they have agreed on the key terms of a share purchase deal between the Gold family and 1890 Holdings. If approved, the deal would see 1890 Holdings—part of Kretinsky’s wider EP Group—become the club’s largest shareholder with a 43% stake.
The move is expected to provide West Ham with the financial backing needed to navigate this difficult period and strengthen the club’s ambitions.
The agreement is expected to be finalised within the next few weeks, with both the Gold family and Kretinsky committing to work together on major decisions and supporting a strategy aimed at an immediate Premier League return.
Other shareholders, including Tripp Smith, Daniel Harris and Terry Brown, are also said to be fully aligned with the club’s direction.
The statement stressed the importance of unity during what it described as one of the most important periods in West Ham’s history.
“We believe a strong coalition of fans, players, management and the board is essential to securing the bright future this club deserves,” they added.
Meanwhile, Sullivan has maintained his innocence, insisting the allegations against him are false and have been exaggerated by the media.
In his resignation statement, he said: “The false allegations levelled against me have been sensationalised. After a lifetime spent building businesses in the adult industry, where I have met thousands of women, it is sadly inevitable that a small number of improper conduct claims are being made against me.”
