It is a different context to Game of Thrones but Winter is coming for West Ham chief David Sullivan and it’s just as ominous.
He’s not as scary as the Night King but Henry Winter’s voice carries a frosty air in the football realm.
Especially when you are on the wrong side of the award-winning journalist’s opinion.
Now it seems West Ham majority owner David Sullivan, vice-chair Karren Brady and the board very much are.
Hammers News has consistently looked to hold West Ham’s board to account over the years.
Whether that is regarding transfer spending, fan issues, the London Stadium or training ground.
It is the stadium that has emerged as a consistent and unavoidable issue at West Ham since the move from Upton Park, though.
White elephant in the room at West Ham
It must be stated, there have been some unforgettable nights at the London Stadium since the move nine nearly years ago.
The likes of Sevilla and others have proved West Ham fans can drum up a proper atmosphere at the bowl-shaped ground built for athletics.
But they are too few and far between with more reliance than ever on the team’s performance dictating the decibel levels.
And over the last 16 months there has been little to nothing to shout about.
There is no escaping the fact a large number of Hammers fans remain deeply unhappy with the London Stadium since the move to Stratford in 2016.
The number one issue has always been the distance from the stands to the pitch – not to mention between the upper and lower tiers in places.
Supporters feel disconnected from the action and that the bowl-shaped nature of the ground is not conducive to a typical Hammers atmosphere which made the Boleyn Ground so intimidating at times.
The counter argument is that football fans are responsible for creating the atmosphere regardless of where they are and what is going on.
One look at clips from a Colombia vs Spain match at West Ham’s home ground earlier this season proves that point.
It was probably the loudest the stadium has been since Andriy Yarmolenko sealed West Ham’s comeback 2-1 aggregate win over Sevilla in the Europa League last 16 that unforgettable evening.
In fairness, West Ham have made some changes such as squaring off the stands behind both goals to try and improve the ground.
Winter is coming for Sullivan and West Ham fans will love it
But the atmosphere has been abysmal this season, not helped by a ridiculous ‘fan wall’ separating home and away supporters which kills any semblance of back and forth between them – the very lifeblood of the game.
The stadium issues are the elephant in the room in east London that simply must be properly addressed. Or should that be ‘white elephant’ – which is what the ground would have been were it not for the Hammers moving in.
That’s where the Hammers faithful need the help of influential figures to push for change.
Well the good news is Winter is coming for Sullivan and West Ham fans will absolutely love it.
The top journalist has now added the considerable weight of his voice to the push for change at the London Stadium.
Winter is demanding West Ham’s owners listen to their fans by removing the hideous fan wall and make substantial changes to the layout of the ground, including installing safe standing sections to get fans closer to the pitch and negate the bowl shape of the arena.
“Fan pressure isn’t simply about protests, it has to also be about dialogue – assuming the board are prepared to listen of course,” Winter said on X.
“West Ham fans worked with their board to get a fairer deal on season tickets and concessions.
“That improved relationship may reap more dividends in the future as they address the vexed issue of atmosphere at the London Stadium. The atmosphere has been good at times… but not often enough.
“Some diehard West Ham fans are just walking away. Now peace has been brokered over season tickets, all parties are looking at the atmosphere…
“The main problem is that West Ham are trying to play football in a stadium that’s built for athletics. The London Stadium should have been knocked down and rebuilt as a football stadium after the Olympics and a proper price paid for it by the club, with the whole thing taken off the public purse.
Winter calls for major stadium changes from West Ham owners
“It’s crazy that West Ham don’t even pay for the stewarding. But of course “Olympic legacy” people scream. Nonsense, they need to get rid of the running track at the London Stadium and install a safe standing. The rake of course would need to be addressed but it would bring fans closer to the pitch.
“There are other issues to address such as away fans in the home end, which is a problem at other stadiums (as well). And also that ugly fan wall in block 113 between home and away.
“It’s designed to prevent trouble but it kills the atmosphere. Relevant parties – the Mayor of London’s office and the West Ham board – need to discuss this and bear one key thing in mind – the views of the fans.”
Winter is reiterating the issues Hammers News has persistently raised with the club’s board.
But his influence can only help cast a bigger spotlight on the problem until it is addressed.
West Ham pledged to look at the stadium issues raised when fan demands were put to them last month.
It is never straightforward to make big changes given West Ham do not own the ground and are merely ‘anchor tenants’.
But this simply cannot continue for the remaining 90 years of the lease.
Hopefully with Winter applying pressure, action will be taken in due course.
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