David Sullivan exit truth emerges at West Ham as Daniel Kretinsky eyes ‘significant’ stake

David Sullivan looks set to stick around at West Ham United for a while longer yet, despite Karren Brady’s exit.

Brady announced her departure as vice-chair on Tuesday after 16 years in the role with the East London side.

The 57-year-old said it has been a “privilege” working at West Ham across a period that has seen the Hammers move into the London Stadium and win the Europa Conference League.

There have been plenty of low points, too, not least this season as the Irons are once again deep in relegation trouble.

Brady’s confirmed exit has led to talk that Sullivan could be next as part of a West Ham reshuffle behind the scenes, but that now seems unlikely amid a new update.

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David Sullivan sticking around at West Ham, but less power likely

Sullivan has been an unpopular figure for a while now and that will not change as long as West Ham are fighting for survival.

As per Jacob Steinberg in his report for The Guardian, Sullivan has no intention of following Brady out the London Stadium door.

West Ham’s worrying finances
2024-25 financial year£104.2m loss
Turnover drop from 2023-24 to 2024-25£269.7m to £227.6m
Profit from 2023-24 season£57.2m

However, Daniel Kretinsky is looking buy a “significant” portion of the Gold Family’s stake in the Hammers.

That would see the Czech billionaire match Sullivan’s shareholding, meaning the latter’s power by extension decreases.

Karren Brady West Ham exit statement

Sullivan has been used to facing little pushback from other figures inside West Ham, but that is now about to change.

West Ham set for huge changes amid Karren Brady exit news

Brady’s exit is major news for West Ham, even if it had been rumoured for a while now.

The vast majority of supporters would have wanted Sullivan to follow Brady, but it was not the be.

However, Kretinsky having a bigger stake in West Ham – if that does indeed happen – means Sullivan will no longer be able to call the shots as he likes.

It is a seismic change behind the scenes and one that will hopefully lead to far better decision making gong forward.

Hopefully that is as a Premier League club, but that now rests solely on Nuno Espirito Santo over these coming weeks.