West Ham United blasted live on talkSPORT after what Jim White said to Charlie Methven
Charlie Methven has accused West Ham and Crystal Palace of holding the game back following the recent Premier League shareholders’ meeting.
Speaking to Jim White on talkSPORT on Tuesday (12 March), the Charlton Athletic co-owner said the two Premier League sides are the leaders of “this King Canute-style movement” after it has emerged the top-flight clubs are prioritising an agreement on their own financial model before speaking to the EFL.
When asked what message he would send to the Hammers and Palace, Methven told them to “grow up” and remember that they were recently members of the football league, adding that they could find themselves playing outside of the Premier League again in the future.
“There are a few Premier League clubs that are holding the industry back and are driving the rest of the industry mad for only thinking of their own short-term, narrow self-interest,” said Methven. “Frankly, everything else is just noise.
“It’s on record that Palace and West Ham are leaders of this King Canute-style movement. It’s not yet a matter of public record of which clubs they’ve persuaded to be in their corner. If you speak to executives from other clubs in the Premier League, they are almost as frustrated as we are. They know because they see a bigger strategic vision of what will happen with the public regulator.
“It’s probably more likely to end up with a scenario they dread, which is reformation of the parachute payments, which would make a difference to these guys.
When asked by White on his message to West Ham and Palace, Methven said: “Grow up. Remember that these clubs, the clubs they run, were very recently football league members and the fact that in a game of musical chairs, they are in the seats they are currently at.
“It doesn’t mean that at some point that their clubs won’t be back in the football league.”
Disappointing from West Ham over EFL deal
It is disappointing to hear from the Charlton chief that West Ham are one of two clubs alongside Palace that are potentially holding up a very important deal for the EFL.
While many will argue that it’s our money and we’re entitled to do with it whatever we please, we’re in a privileged position to be able to help the entire pyramid survive and prosper.
This can’t just be about a select 20 clubs moving forward and leaving everyone behind because we have the best football league in the world and we must protect it.
We are currently in the Premier League, but in the past 20 years alone, we have found ourselves playing in the Championship twice and it could happen again in the future.
There is just far too much greed that goes on in the top flight and it’s about time people started thinking about how 92 clubs can continue to improve our league together rather than the lucky few focusing on themselves.
It’s time for a rethink from David Sullivan and the rest of the club’s hierarchy.
In other West Ham news, sources have claimed a Premier League manager is now in the frame to replace Moyes.
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