(Credit: talkSPORT/Imago)

Jacob Raw

Fri 24 April 2026 7:10, UK

West Ham United may be having internal discussions over the future of David Gold’s shares following the departure of Karren Brady, suggests Kieran Maguire.

The Baroness announced her departure from the London Stadium this week, in timing that hasn’t gone done well with the wider-footballing audience.

Nuno Espirito Santo is trying to keep the Irons up, but in the midst of a battle for Premier League survival, there now seems to be more ownership gossip.

Gold still has a large stake in the Hammers through his family trust after passing away in 2023, and Brady’s exit may have shaken things up.

Things are even going as far as Daniel Kretinsky possibly owning half of West Ham in the future, following Maguire’s secret conversations.

Kieran Maguire says Daniel Kretinsky could have split ownership with David Sullivan

Brady was never considered a key equity owner at West Ham, as her vice-chair role was mainly to represent and be the middle point for majority owner, David Sullivan.

To put into perspective just how much the owners have ruined their relationship with West Ham fans, there have been protests inside the London Stadium this season due to constant off-field errors.

While speaking on The Price of Football podcast, finance expert Maguire revealed that people behind the scenes are talking about what happens next with Gold’s shares in the club, while a restructuring of the ownership could take place.

Maguire said: “To announce your immediate resignation when the focus is on West Ham preserving their Premier League status does seem strange.

“I was contacted by a secret hammer earlier today, and this was gossip, saying there are discussions about what is going to happen to the shares that were held by the former owner, David Gold.

“There is also Daniel Kretinsky, and there could be a change as far as the ownership is concerned, and could see a split between David Sullivan and Kretinsky, similar to why it was between Sullivan and Gold.”

Kretinsky is currently the ultimate owner of 1890s holdings a.s, who have a 27 per cent stake in the Hammers, but the suggestions are that this could be split between Sullivan, as the latter once did with Gold.

Gold’s shares in West Ham remain at 25.1 per cent, and though just gossip at this stage, as Maguire suggests, his daughter Vanessa may need to sell her father’s shares to Kretinsky.

How West Ham will suffer under ‘unapproachable’ Kretinsky

One thing some West Ham fans would actually praise brady for is her willingness to interact with the public and get her points across to supporters.

Though people would most likely disagree with her half the time, it’s becoming more and more rare to see club officials with a hands-on approach.

That’s why, if what’s being said about Kretinsky is true, fans could be in for the silent treatment for years to come, based on assumptions made.

According to The Guardian on Tuesday, Kretinsky is “secretive and unapproachable”, which doesn’t bode well for the future of West Ham.