Credit: Imago and beIN Sports

Max Wilkins

Tue 28 April 2026 11:10, UK

West Ham United waved goodbye to Karren Brady in surprise fashion last week.

The vice-chair departed the London Stadium a week ago, bringing a 16-year association with the claret and blue outfit to an end.

News of her departure was met with shock and mainly joy from supporters in E20, after years of frustration aimed at her.

There has been a long-standing grudge towards the business executive after her key role in the Olympic Stadium move in 2016.

Brady has now departed West Ham, but for Richard Keys, it has raised more questions than answers for the Hammers.

Richard Keys questions why Karren Brady has left West Ham

There were certain promises made as part of the London Stadium move that haven’t come true.

The 1969-born baroness was the main voice behind those and has watched on as the Irons have largely stagnated in the Premier League.

That has seen many supporters call for the businesswoman to depart and free up the vice-chair role for someone to take on.

Her exit still came as a surprise when it was announced, something that hasn’t been lost on Keys in his weekly blog post.

The former Sky Sports presenter has questioned what has really happened behind the scenes to cause such a sudden departure.

He said: “There’s something odd about West Ham’s decision to part company with Karen Brady. Why the rush? It was a brutal exit.

“Resigning from a job usually leads to a process of winding down. Brady was out of the door before the lights went out in her office. I don’t think we’ve got the whole story yet.”

Brady has her next steps in mind away from West Ham, but that doesn’t take away from the mystery surrounding her E20 exit.

Keys won’t miss Brady at West Ham

Although the beIN Sports host wants to know more about the situation, it’s clear what his opinion is on the baroness.

There were initial suggestions that Brady would be a loss for both the Irons and the Premier League, something which Keys has dismissed.

He added: “He [Martin Samuel] wrote in The Times Brady’s departure ‘was a loss for the whole of football’ I couldn’t disagree more. I’m with Sam Wallace, who made this point in The Telegraph – that Brady’s legacy ‘is a stadium hated by fans’.

“I’d go further and say it’s a stadium not fit for purpose. It’s a shame she profited, through legal bonuses, so richly when she did the deal to base West Ham in an athletics arena. I don’t think Brady will be missed one jot.”

It’s safe to say that the claret and blue faithful will wholeheartedly agree with Keys and won’t have any worry about Brady finally moving on.