Credit: talkSPORT and Imago

Daniel Lewis

Tue 21 April 2026 17:10, UK

West Ham United vice-chair Karren Brady’s exit has come as no real surprise to Simon Jordan.

Brady announced on Tuesday that she left the role she held for 16 years earlier this month, having first considered doing so in January.

The 57-year-old was appointed by West Ham in January 2010 by then joint-chairs David Sullivan and the late David Gold.

Brady has been at the centre of numerous protests down the years, while there has been repeated talk in recent times that she could move on.

As West Ham now prepare for life without Brady involved in the London Stadium boardroom, Jordan has had his say on the topic.

Simon Jordan expected Karren Brady exit sooner

Brady, for all her critics, has proved herself a bit of a trailblazer in terms of being a female high up at football clubs.

While Brady’s exit has caused some uncertainty at West Ham, outspoken broadcaster Jordan says he is surprised she stuck around as long as she did in East London.

And Jordan shared an inside joke he had heard about Brady over the years, having himself had to negotiate with her.

“How you know when Karren’s not lying? Her lips aren’t moving,” he said on talkSPORT, to which fellow host Jim White could be seen laughing on air.

“Karren’s hard [to do business with]. I did deals with Birmingham City a number of times and it wasn’t the most pleasant of business.

“She’s a very capable operator, very capable at certain things and very motivated. I’m surprised she stayed there as long as she did.

“She didn’t always see eye to eye with Sullivan and Gold but has always been resourceful for them. She’s done a lot of their dirty work because she’s very resilient.”

As Jordan says, Brady had a defined role at West Ham and her presence will clearly be felt by Sullivan, whose own status will now be called into question.

What next for David Sullivan after Brady exit?

There had been suggestions – some would say hope – that Brady’s exit could be followed by Sullivan himself stepping aside.

That does not appear to be the case, but that is not to say things will not change quite drastically behind the scenes at the London Stadium.

Daniel Kretinsky looks set to increase his stake in West Ham, bringing parity with Sullivan.

That would therefore mean Sullivan does not have free reign in terms of the shots he calls high up.

Brady said in her farewell message that she felt “privileged” to have spent so long at West Ham, but now the Hammers will move forward into what is a brighter future.