Eggert Magnusson in hilariously petty stance on Karren Brady as West Ham United interview emerges
They say time heals all wounds, but if former West Ham chairman Eggert Magnusson’s petty – if not a little hilarious – stance on Karren Brady is anything to go by that is not necessarily true.
Magnusson was interview by the Athletic (22 June) on a host of topics, including his tenure in the boardroom alongside billionaire businessman Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson, who owned a 95 per cent stake.
A financial crash in Iceland ultimately led to the demise of their ownership with David Sullivan and the late David Gold eventually taking over and employing Brady as CEO.
Magnusson was once referred to as “Mr Egghead” by Sullivan, and there is clearly no love lost for him or Brady – who he would refer to only as “the nice lady”.
“Sullivan, the nice lady and David Gold were owners of Birmingham City at the time,” he said.
“I liked David Gold a lot, he was a true gentleman and he wanted to do things the right way. I was sad when I saw the news that he passed away.
“Sullivan and the nice lady weren’t my type of people. But I think they have helped the club progress in a way and they got the London Stadium for almost nothing.”
Patronising, petty…but a little bit funny
Eggert Magnusson is not a man who will be remembered with any sort of fondness at West Ham.
He was part of an ownership structure that nearly led the club over the edge of a financial cliff and had it not been for Sullivan and Gold’s rescue act who know what would have happened.
Sullivan and Brady themselves have not always been overly popular with the club’s fanbase, but Magnusson’s refusal to even name the latter by her name is pretty poor in relating.
It is patronising, it is condescending and extremely petty…and yet it is also a little hilarious.
Moreover, it is hard to imagine a successful businesswoman like Brady – who is also a star of the hit BBC One show ‘The Apprentice’ – will given a second’s thought to a snub from a man who failed so spectacularly in Premier League ownership.
Just a little word of advice Eggert…it might be time to let this one go.