Biscuit baron Eggert Magnusson has slammed ‘control freak’ David Sullivan but his argument is as flaky as his West Ham tenure.
West Ham thought they had hit the jackpot when the Icelandic investment bank Straumur, led by Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson and fronted by enigmatic chairman Eggert Magnusson, took charge and started splashing the cash.
Like West Ham’s anthem, though, those dreams soon faded and died. The duo splashed silly money – particularly in terms of wages – on some unwise signings.
Then the Icelandic economy collapsed and West Ham were plunged into financial crisis eventually leading to the arrival of David Sullivan and David Gold.
It was seen as typical of West Ham’s rotten luck that, having thought they finally had ambitious owners willing to spend big to compete, it quickly turned to near disaster.
It is fair to say the tenure of Sullivan and the now sadly passed Gold has – at times – been tempestuous. And some supporters will simply never see eye to eye with majority stakeholder Sullivan.
Biscuit baron Eggert Magnusson slams ‘control freak’ David Sullivan but his argument is as flaky as his West Ham tenure
But recovering from the brink of administration, big investment in the playing staff, a first major trophy in 43 years, the club’s record Premier League points total and European football for three consecutive seasons for the first time in West Ham’s history are considerable feathers in the caps of Sullivan and co’s ownership.
It is perhaps the kind of success West Ham fans had anticipated following the arrival of Magnusson and Gudmundsson.
Eggert, the former owner and CEO of an import/export and bread and biscuit manufacturing company, was well-liked by the Hammers faithful for his passion. But there was little substance behind the incoherent and short-lived spell of the Icelandic duo in east London.
Now biscuit baron Magnusson has slammed ‘control freak’ Sullivan but his argument is as flaky as his West Ham tenure.
Speaking in a rare interview with The Athletic, Magnusson made it clear he was reluctant to spark a war of words with Sullivan. But he could not resist a dig at the Hammers chief.
‘I just can’t see Sullivan stepping down’
He believes Sullivan will never allow a full takeover by co-owner Daniel Kretinsky because he is a control freak. And his comments suggest he feels Sullivan is holding West Ham back.
“My feeling with Sullivan is he loves control,” Magnusson told The Athletic.
“I don’t think it’s something he ever wants to lose. I don’t think he will ever retire. If he sells the club to Daniel Kretinsky, Sullivan will more or less have to retire and I honestly can’t see it happening.
“Kretinsky has had success in business and would have fresh and new ideas for West Ham. But I just can’t see Sullivan stepping down.”
Eggert – once referred to as ‘Mr Egghead’ and ‘potty’ by Sullivan when describing the mess the Icelandics left behind at West Ham – also said Sullivan and Karren Brady are ‘not my type of people’.
No lack of irony given Icelandics’ lack of control which left Hammers in sorry state
He did however concede Sullivan and co have helped West Ham progress ‘in a way’.
“Sullivan, the nice lady (refuses to say Brady’s name) and David Gold were owners of Birmingham City at the time. I liked David Gold a lot, he was a true gentleman and he wanted to do things the right way. I was sad when I saw the news that he passed away.
“Sullivan and the nice lady weren’t my type of people. But I think they have helped the club progress in a way and they got the London Stadium for almost nothing.”
Of course Magnusson is entitled to his opinion. But no matter what your stance on Sullivan and co, his comments carry little weight given the mess the club was left in.
Magnusson even admits in the interview his regime gave players ‘ridiculous money’.
There is a certain irony to the fact he is criticising Sullivan for being a control freak when it was the lack of control from him and Gudmundsson which contributed to West Ham dicing with financial ruin.
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