Sam Delaney has been speaking on the latest episode of the U Irons podcast, where he claimed the recent European Super League debacle has changed his view on West Ham United’s owners.
David Gold and David Sullivan have come under heavy criticism throughout their tenure with the capital club and have even seen several fan protests occur against their ownership.
A move away from the Hammers’ spiritual home of Upton Park in 2016 caused huge controversy after supporters failed to warm to their new London Stadium.
However, the two entrepreneurs are local to the area, support West Ham and regularly attend games, something the owners of the Premier League’s ‘Big Six’ can’t emulate, and the recent show of greed from their American, Russian and Middle East owners has made Delaney reevaluate his view on Gold and Sullivan.
He said: “With regards to the Super League, I’m still Gold, Sullivan and Brady out. However, I would say when you look at what our friends at Chelsea and City and United and all the other clubs are going through at the moment, I think, well, bloody hell, at least we’ve got club owners who are there, inside the club, visible, talk, probably talk too much – they’re the opposite of silent Stan, right?
“And in the case of Sullivan and Gold, as much they go on about it and it’s annoying, are fans. They are football fans, and they are passionate fans of West Ham. Now, they don’t get it right, and I would like to see someone else run this club with more competence, but it’s shifted my view, these last 48 hours, a lot.
“Because although I think there’s plenty of people who could do a better job, what I now think is, well, I would sooner keep these three than get some sort of sovereign state or huge business conglomerate or hedge fund, you know, some sort of faceless, shadowy figure who sees it as a money-making machine. To be honest, I would take Sullivan and Gold over that.”
TIF Thoughts on Sullivan and Gold…
The hostilities towards Gold and Sullivan from large sections of the West Ham support are easy to understand.
A report from Football London revealed the businessmen have paid themselves large sums of money out of the club during their time in charge, the Hammers have also left Upton Park and suffered relegation, but things are starting to look up.
West Ham are currently sitting in fifth place in the Premier League table and are in contention to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in their history.
The recent Super League plans would have taken that opportunity away from the Hammers, and other fans may now feel the same as Delaney due to the arrogance, ignorance and greed shown by the owners of the ‘Big Six’ clubs.
In other news: ‘For a team of Champions League aspirations’ – Journalist claims West Ham ace should be axed