West Ham news: Uncertainty in boardroom before Championship return

Sullivan has been the subject of long-standing criticism from West Ham fans for his running of the club.

Together with former business partner and co-chair David Gold, who died in 2023, and Baroness Karren Brady, Sullivan has never been forgiven by some supporters for the decision to leave Upton Park in 2016 and move into the former Olympic Stadium.

Brady stood down as vice-chair on 21 April to focus on her other business interests.

In their June statement, Kretinsky, who owns 27%, and Gold (25.1%) said they had reached an agreement that meant the former, who also owns the Royal Mail, would become West Ham’s biggest shareholder, with 43%.

The club’s other significant shareholders – Tripp Smith, Daniel Harris and Terry Brown – were said to be in support.

But the deal was never completed.

On 1 August, Gold, who had initially put her shares up for sale in October 2023, confirmed “the original deal and other alternatives could not be brought to fruition” and announced she had agreed to sell her entire shareholding to a consortium headed by Staveley.

Kretinsky reacted with dismay, and said he was “considering his options”. Three days later, it was confirmed Havrlant had bought just over 2% of his shares.