London rivals could end up cheering West Ham as politician speaks out on ‘fiasco’
West Ham’s potential relegation from the Premier League will have financial effects on Londoners.
The London Stadium has been a toxic place, with many Hammers fans wishing they had never made the move from the Boleyn Ground.
David Sullivan and Karen Brady have come under fire for their handling of the club in recent times, with the Hammers now facing a real prospect of relegation this season.
Nuno Espirito Santo has been able to get results for the Hammers of late, but still has a massive job to keep West Ham in the top flight.
Now, the Hammers may be backed by their London rivals, once they learn further details on the financial “fiasco” that could cut holes in their pockets.
London taxpayers will owe an extra £2.5m per year if West Ham are relegated
If West Ham were to get relegated, the amount Sullivan and Co. would owe in rent on the London Stadium would drop, but the venue would still cost the same sum of money to run.
West Ham’s current rent on the London Stadium will be halved should they drop to the Championship.
This means that the government (GLA) would have to cover the missing money, where most income comes from London taxpayers.
- West Ham moved to the London Stadium from the Boleyn Ground in 2016
- Sullivan currently pays £4m in annual rent for the London Stadium
- In 2013, as Mayor of London, Boris Johnson signed off on a deal to give West Ham a 99-year lease on the former Olympic Stadium
Labour Assembly Member Bassam Mahfouz has now commented on the situation.
Mahfouz said, as quoted by My London: “Not only are Londoners being hammered by the worst football deal in Premier League history, signed off by the previous Mayor Boris Johnson, but it now looks like things could get even worse.
“Londoners across the capital might end up cheering on West Ham once they discover they’ll be paying an extra £2.5m a year if the club is relegated. It’s a financial fiasco so badly negotiated it could only be described as an own goal.”
But with the way things are currently going for the Irons, how realistic are the chances of survival?
West Ham face Premier League relegation uncertainty
The Hammers face Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday and have a chance to win three games in a row in the Premier League for the first time this season.
West Ham are currently 18th in the league standings, just behind Burnley, who are outside the relegation zone thanks to their superior goal difference.
Nuno has done a remarkable job of turning the Hammers’ fortunes around in recent matches, but as things stand, West Ham could still be relegated.
However, things are looking up for Nuno and West Ham, and a win against the Cherries could help them leapfrog relegation rivals in the table.
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