Daniel Kretinsky will become West Ham owner, club to get ‘more money’ – Simon Jordan
Daniel Kretinsky will become West Ham owner and the club will be able to develop by getting “more money” from him according to Simon Jordan.
The Czech billionaire bought 27% of the club in November in a deal that included an option to take full ownership (Guardian), and former Crystal Palace chairman Jordan thinks that could happen next year.
After March 2023 an “anti-embarrassment” clause in the original deal with the London Legacy Development Corporation on moving into the London Stadium no longer applies, meaning David Sullivan and David Gold would not owe any proceeds from a full sale to the tax-payer (Telegraph).
Ahead of the Europa League clash with Lyon tonight, host Jim White asked on talkSPORT this morning (14 April, 11.20am): “Are the foundations being established there by the ownership to make this a regular occurrence, to go deep in a European tournament?”
“Not particularly. I think they’ve laid the foundations by bringing David Moyes back which was more luck than skill.
“But the bottom line now is they’ve got another investor, that’s the foundation that I think West Ham fans can take some heart from, because I think he will end up owning the football club.
“Maybe the efficiency of selling the football club in 2023 will become prevalent to David Gold and David Sullivan.
“There’s only one thing that helps [West Ham] with [getting bigger] and that’s more money, and that’s not hugely forthcoming from the with the current majority shareholders.
“It may become more forthcoming with this new investor.”
Money talks
Everything is pointing towards the current owners waiting out their obligations and keeping all the profits from a sale after March next year.
Plenty of fans won’t be sad to see them go, as prior to the Covid-19 pandemic and the return of Moyes they were subject of sustained angry protests.
Fans, rivals and neutrals will likely be united in resentment at the huge profits they will surely walk away with as well.
But in terms of development at the club it probably will be a positive development.
Although the manager has been effusive in his praise of the board for backing him with club-record bids for the likes of Darwin Nunez and Kalvin Phillips, none of those moves actually happened.
The European run may continue past tonight’s game, but a repeat performance next year hangs in the balance via the league position.
It was widely seen as a key chance gone begging to consolidate the lofty surroundings the team had got themselves into in January, but nothing was spent.
Fans will be hoping that if a transfer of ownership happens as Jordan predicts, the increased spending and continued development of the club follows.
In other West Ham news, boxing promoter Barry Hearn has accused the owners of leaving tax-payers “royally ripped off” in his autobiography.
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