As David Sullivan’s fiancée continues her unsavoury war of words with West Ham fans, his son Jack Sullivan has shown true class.
The contrast has not gone unnoticed among Hammers supporters who are protesting against David Sullivan, vice-chair Karren Brady and the board.
National press have billed it ‘civil war’ at West Ham and things took a messy twist this week.
Irons fans followed up a public vote of no confidence in the board by protesting ahead of the team’s latest defeat to Crystal Palace at the London Stadium.
Sullivan and Brady are the primary targets of the activism, as illustrated by the fact the slogan for the Hammers United protest campaign is ‘No more BS’.
Around 4,000 West Ham fans took to the street leading to the director’s entrance at the London Stadium to make their feelings clear as they try to force Sullivan and Brady to stand down.
Sullivan’s fiancée continues war of words with West Ham fans
Plans are in place for a boycott of the Brentford game, a sit-in after the Newcastle match, large marches and black-balloon away game protests.
However, classy West Ham fans have called off their next protest against the owners as a mark of respect to Everton.
The Hammers hierarchy have been asked to respond to the West Ham Fan Advisory Board’s demands for change by their next meeting, which has been brought forward.
But in yet another huge PR own goal for the ownership, it has become clear the board feel they are doing better job than fans give them credit for.
First West Ham released a huge 1,382-word statement defending the way they have run the club in the build-up to the Palace defeat.
Judging by the reaction among fans, that statement only served to persuade even more of them to join the protest.
Then Sullivan’s reality TV star fiancée Ampika Pickston launched into a sweary defence of the West Ham chief on social media.
But as Sullivan’s fiancée continues her war of words with West Ham fans, his son Jack Sullivan has shown true class.
After her initial X-rated defence of Sullivan, Pickston, a star of The Real Housewives of Cheshire TV show, continued the unsavoury back-and-forth with angry Hammers fans.
One of the biggest West Ham accounts on X told Pickston to tell Sullivan he is ‘hated’ by supporters.
In response, she said billionaire Sullivan had ‘invested his security in ensuring West Ham avoid relegation’.
Pickston picks fight with fed-up Hammers supporters
“Once you have been in football as an owner for three decades, invested your security on staying up through relegation please come and share your thoughts. As they would be valued and significant,” Pickston said.
“To be nasty and personal, including your negative attitude towards myself based on tabloids nonsense.
“Do me a favour, live a life in someone’s shoes and comment. Hiding behind West Ham’s club doesn’t wash with me. Who the f— are you.”
The fallout continued when Pickston responded to another high-profile supporter who labelled her ‘clueless’ about the way Sullivan has run West Ham.
“(I) Responded to a comment, I make no claims only share my opinion,” Pickston said.
“If you’re a person of great knowledge and insight, go and work in football as a manager, coach or set up a club yourself.”
Pickston, who has also been engaging in rows with fans on Instagram, then goaded Hammers supporters by saying “Please, I can’t take any more” alongside several laughing emojis and a picture with the words: “Sometimes I look at people and think, ‘Really? that’s the sperm that won?”
Pickston then sent another post to West Ham fans saying she won’t stand for being abused and seeing Sullivan belittled.
“I am not here to be abused, written about and have my partner belittled,” Pickston said.
“Believe your narrative. Be your own hero go and save the world, your ego or your p—- size.
“I see what I see and see a good person fighting fires and feeling what you see and feel. Not responding to anymore nonsense.”
Jack Sullivan shows much-needed class after tragic Beard death
Some things are bigger and more important than football.
There was a stark reminder of that when former West Ham United women’s team manager Matt Beard suddenly and sadly passed away over the weekend.
Beard first stepped through the doors of Rush Green training ground for the women’s team’s first-ever season as a professional outfit in the Barclays Women’s Super League in 2018.
The women’s team was run by Sullivan’s son Jack Sullivan.
A once popular figure among Hammers fans, Jack used to regularly engage with supporters on social media.
But growing disdain for his dad’s stewardship of West Ham saw that come to an end.
As the row between his dad’s fiancee and Hammers fans was washing the club’s dirty linen in public yet again, Jack Sullivan did something that showed some much-needed class.
Friends of the Beard family launched a JustGiving page to raise £5,000 to help his wife Debbie and family with immediate funeral and living costs.
Jack Sullivan instantly donated the entire £5,000.
Credit must be given where it is due and this was a class act from Jack, whatever stance you have on him or his dad and the board.
After meeting the target in one donation, the page has now gone on to raise over £40,000 for the Beard family.
The outpouring of kindness after such a tragic event brought some civility to West Ham’s civil war.
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