By Dan Plumley

12th Sep, 2022 | 4:15pm

Dan Plumley reacts as West Ham United see 77% two-year value change on Forbes

We’re delighted to welcome football finance expert Dr Daniel Plumley as our exclusive West Ham United columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at the London Stadium...

Dan Plumley has insisted that West Ham United have seen their value jump up tremendously in a short amount of time due to their on-pitch success.

Forbes has released their latest financial figures, valuing the club at $900million [£770m], which is said to be a 77% increase over the past two years alone.

The finance expert admitted that Daniel Kretinsky’s investment also factors into the rise, but the trick is to make sure that this is sustained over the coming years.

“It does factor in,” he exclusively told West Ham Zone.

“You’re looking at all the things that Forbes measure, the increased revenue and commercial opportunities, that’s been boosted by on-pitch success and that is why you can see sporting performance turn into the revenue picture, but also, the investment there and the way in which it was done, it means West Ham aren’t reliant on external investors, it’s the owners and that makes the figures look better.

“You throw all those things into the mix and we have said that West Ham have jumped up very quickly in a short space of time and when you see these valuations and factor the numbers in, you can see why you get to that 77% increase because it’s been a really short, sharp up-turn into performance.

“The trick is to sustain.”

This is excellent news.

After the update of being placed on the UEFA watchlist for Financial Fair Play compliance, this eases that potential worry with the club progressing fantastically off the pitch, as well as on it.

Kretinsky having the chance to take full control of the club may only push up the valuation more too, so that is certainly something to keep an eye on at West Ham United in the years to come.

Can he sustain it? We hope so.