Credit: Imago

Declan Carr

Tue 5 May 2026 7:10, UK

West Ham United are edging closer to relegation from the Premier League.

The pendulum swung at the weekend, with Tottenham beating Aston Villa and the Hammers losing heavily at Brentford.

It leaves Nuno Espirito Santo‘s side one point away from safety with just three matches left to play until all is decided.

However, it may not be all bad news, even if the E20 side go down to the Championship, as it could force significant change.

West Ham supporters can’t stand David Sullivan, and it could be the final straw that makes him depart if they go down.

Will David Sullivan really leave if West Ham are relegated?

Sullivan’s days at West Ham may be numbered if they drop down to the second tier.

The prominent figure has already been the subject of “no more BS” (Brady and Sullivan) protests from supporters, and they will surely only get louder if the club are relegated.

He may decide that it is not worth the hassle and allow Daniel Kretinsky to take over his stake, and finally end his association with the Irons.

The Hammers fanbase have already seen Brady leave, so it would not be a surprise to see Sullivan follow his ally out of the London Stadium door.

West Ham can get rid of the deadwood

The Hammers need players who are committed to the cause and willing to put their heart and soul on the line for the club.

Relegation would likely weed out those who are only at the club for a paycheck and whose heads are not fully in the battle.

That would leave the East London club with a squad that is ready to fight to regain their place in the top-flight and push on if they get back there.

It would give youngsters a chance

The Hammers have a highly promising amount of academy talents, such as Josh Ajala, Airidas Golambeckis, and Josh Landers.

If they drop down to the EFL, then they may well find themselves handed an increased role and given first-team opportunities on a regular basis.

That could help to reinstate the club’s DNA, also known as the ‘West Ham Way’, which has been sorely lacking in recent years.

That should equip them for a better shake at things if they get back to the top level immediately.