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Czech mate at West Ham?

Daniel Kretinsky is poised to become the largest shareholder at West Ham United amid the continuing uncertainty around David Sullivan’s future with the club. 

As The Times reported last weekend, club insiders believe the Czech billionaire will respond to Sullivan’s resignation as co-chairman — a decision he took in advance of the publication of a joint investigation by The Times and the BBC into allegations of sexually exploitative and predatory behaviour when he was making his fortune in the adult industry — by increasing his control of the club, who were relegated from the Premier League last month.

At present Kretinsky has a 27 per cent share, with Sullivan’s 38.8 per cent now under the scrutiny of the Independent Football Regulator (IFR) in the wake of the allegations. 

Sullivan, 77, denies any wrongdoing but the IFR could yet force the British businessman to divest his shares if it now follows its preliminary inquiries by launching an investigation that concludes he no longer meets the required standards of honesty and integrity to be a football club owner. 

It remains to be seen if Kretinsky ends up securing part or all of Sullivan’s stake, but another option open to him would be to buy the shares belonging to Vanessa Gold, who inherited them from her father, David, after he died in 2023. It is understood such discussions have already taken place.

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