Amanda Staveley taking over West Ham United, and potentially joining forces with Daniel Kretinsky, would most certainly conclude the long, largely miserable David Sullivan chapter in East London.
Two years after selling her remaining shares at Newcastle, Staveley left the door to West Ham ajar in a very intriguing interview this week.
The British financier and her husband Mehrdad Ghodoussi are looking to dip their beaks back into professional football sooner rather than later. An underachieving outfit in need of a new direction – a sleeping giant, if you will – is the priority.
A fairly fitting description of West Ham United, we are sure you will agree.
What would you say if Amanda Staveley BOUGHT West Ham?
Staveley and Kretinsky could be quite the team… 📝 💰
Staveley is seemingly targeting a London club, too along with her consortium of US backers. Furthermore, Staveley worked with Steve Nickson – West Ham United’s potential new sporting director – at St James’ Park, hailing the 61-year-old for his ‘amazing’ track record in the recruitment department.
While no one is suggesting that all roads lead to East London just yet, things may be falling into place slowly but surely behind the scenes.
West Ham United fans react to Amanda Staveley statement
Daniel Kretinsky has made a good impression on the supporters in the aftermath of David Sullivan’s resignation. Czech billionaire Kretinsky is injecting £90 million into the coffers while raising his share to 43 per cent.
Getting Staveley on board – five years after she spearheaded the Saudi Arabian takeover of another perennial underachiever in Newcastle – would represent another brave, bold step into the future.
“Sullivan to Staveley is a bigger upgrade than Nokia 3210 to an iPhone,” says Hammers News reporter Antony Martin.
“Would surely be great for the club,” adds one of our TalkingPoint users. “Newcastle been a bit downhill since she left.”
“I would be very happy with it.”
“[Getting Staveley] in would be great.”
During her four-year stint as a director at St James’ Park, Newcastle qualified for the Champions League for the first time in two decades while ending a 56-year trophy drought. It has not gone unnoticed among a disgruntled Magpies fanbase that the early, PIF-powered progress appears to have slowed since Staveley’s influence waned.
Others, on our Facebook page, seem more divided. There are those who feel that Kretinsky is tainted by his old partnership with Sullivan, while others wonder if Staveley could really emulate her success at Newcastle without the potential backing of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.
Staveley arrival could bring risks but also rewards to West Ham
Still, that we are even having this discussion – in a post-Sullivan era – is something many would have dreamed of when the anti-ownership protests hit their peak last season.
“We need a complete new ownership,” one argues. “Kretinsky was only ever in it for the money so him buying up the [David] Gold shares shouldn’t be mistaken as anything but getting a payday when he sells.
“If Staveley can put together a group who can buy all the current shareholders out, good luck to her.”
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“Certainly don’t want an American consortium involved in the club. Just look at Chelsea,” another says, referring to the highly-unpopular Clearlake group. “But saying that, since she’s left Newcastle they have fallen off a cliff, so would love for her to run the club on a small share basis.”
“Well, she won’t be bringing anyone as rich as she did to Newcastle so we should stick with Kretinsky.”
“Going nowhere at the moment. Only down and the only way of becoming a top club is big investment.”
“Be chuffed with [Staveley’s involvement]. I feel very positive about what’s going on at the club at the moment with [Sullivan] out the picture.”
“These consortiums mean multiple decision makers I guess, and what happens when one wants to pull out? So no thanks, and can we have Kretinsky please!”
As things stand, it is not certain whether there is a world in which Staveley and Kretinsky are both involved at the London Stadium at the same time.
“Maybe, you don’t know,” Staveley said when asked, by Spear’s, if she is interested in buying into West Ham. “We really want to be buying or going in and investing in a club again. Very soon, hopefully.
“Both my husband and I, we’re attracted to building a business where we can take a brand that isn’t doing so well, a club that isn’t performing well and get it on the right road and bring that [club] forward.
“And there are very few clubs that tick that box.”
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