By Joe Ellis

20th Nov, 2022 | 9:10am

West Ham United takeover unlikely but Daniel Kretinsky could try

Daniel Kretinsky could try to complete a majority takeover of West Ham United but David Gold and David Sullivan are unwilling, according to Claret and Hugh.

The trio already own the vast majority of the football club but Czech billionaire Kretinsky has shown an eagerness to buy some of Gold and Sullivan’s shares to become the main shareholder.

However, GSB have been adamant that they wouldn’t relinquish enough shares to make the Czech man the main shareholder of the football club.

“GSB have made it clear they have no intention of selling sufficient shares for Daniel to gain control,” a key source at the London Stadium told Claret and Hugh. “Sullivan intends to remain the biggest shareholder although it may be possible that David G may sell just a few.”

Democracy

Having multiple shareholders of fairly equal holding is arguably the ideal way to run a football club because it should prevent one person from turning it into a dictatorship.

Kretinsky might not do that should he acquire Gold and Sullivan’s slice of the pie but nobody truly knows what he might end up doing and that is why the long-standing West Ham United owners are reluctant to back down anytime soon.

The move may well come one day with Gold and Sullivan getting on nowadays and having been major figures at the club for more than a decade but it is still too soon.

This is the best run of finishes West Ham have had in a very long time so they would be mad to jump off the bandwagon while it’s at full pelt.

£170million spent in the summer also suggests that they are far from done in trying to make the Irons into one of the best sides in the country so they may well be around for a good while yet.