Disreputable satirical magazine Private Eye is rather disobliging about the West Ham board and in particular Baroness Brady in its latest issue. As well as her West Ham role, she is a mentor on The Apprentice and has a column in the Currant Bun.
Baroness Brady was paid £1.47m by West Ham in 2024/25, up by £35,000 from the preceding year. West Ham lost £104m in that year and is currently battling relegation from the Premier League.
In all fairness it should be pointed out that the directors of top flight clubs are rarely recompensed on a payment by results basis. Just think Tottenham Hotspur where as the club goes down, directors' fees go up.
In addition Brady has been involved in football since the age of 23 when she was appointed managing director of Birminghan City by David Sullivan. Indeed, she married a player at the club.
The 77-year old Sullivan is now the largest shareholder at West Ham. Private Eye claims that 'he has assembled a board of directors that resembles an Apprentice-style succession contest.'
His sons Jack Sullivan and David Sullivan Junior are directors, as is son-in-law David Cunningham. Also there is Vanessa Gold, daughter of Sullivan's late business partner David Gold. She serves as joint chair.
Private Eye describes it as 'family-friendly corporate governance.' Nothing illegal about family firms, but the model does not seem to have brought the Hammers success.
Indeed, one disgruntled fan recently suggested that the club should have a new mascot: Nepobabe.
Comments
Post a Comment