Russell Brand argues West Ham are vindicating move from Upton Park to London Stadium
If West Ham finish in the top six of the Premier League this season they will have held up their end of the deal in leaving Upton Park says Russell Brand.
The Hammers left their former home, which the comedian calls a “sacred place” to take up residency at the then-Olympic Stadium in 2016, in a controversial move that saw opposition from fans, locals, tax-payers and rival sides.
The club owners argued it was necessary in order for the club to reach the next level, but as recently as two years ago there were supporter protests inside the London Stadium calling for David Sullivan, David Gold and Karren Brady to go (Guardian) as relegation loomed.
The upturn in fortunes under David Moyes has lead to Brand arguing that the bargain is being upheld.
Speaking on talkSPORT this morning ex-Hammer Trevor Sinclair asked: “I presume you were at the Manchester United game, the last game of the season at Upton Park. The atmosphere was insane… Have we adjusted? Have we made it our home now at the London Stadium?”
Brand answered: “There was a kind of deal made wasn’t there? The deal was ‘we go there, we get top four’.
“So if we get top four, or at least top six? If we get that this year then I suppose the deal is done.”
Change of fortunes
Although there is some logic to the point that the move has therefore been worthwhile there will be fans who do not, and will not ever, agree.
It is debatable whether it is the stadium that has propelled the Irons to the heights they are currently reaching though.
Indeed, the protests of two years ago were a full four seasons into the club’s tenure in Stratford and had them staring into the relegation abyss.
Since then there has been the best past of a season and a half played in front of empty seats thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic, negating any advantage the increased stadium capacity would have brought.
The board are not copping it from fans in the same way but that may be more out of luck than design.
The fact that lockdown kept disgruntled fans away, and to an extent made them grateful simply to be able to watch the team once they came back, took the heat off the owners.
And it is surely more down to the excellent work manager Moyes has done since replacing Manuel Pellegrini that has done the leg-work in bringing about a far more harmonious atmosphere around the club.
In other West Ham news, Declan Rice may not be going to Chelsea after they reportedly have “extensively” scouted a cheaper alternative.