Hammers board confidant Sean Whetstone has made a huge new claim about West Ham co-owner Daniel Kretinsky.
After a brilliant first half of the season, the wheels have been threatening to fall off at West Ham since the turn of the year.
David Moyes is under severe pressure to keep his job at West Ham.
And some fans are starting to turn on the Scot as well as the owners.
There have been conflicting reports about the club’s technical director Tim Steidten’s relationship with Moyes and whether he intends to stay at West Ham amid interest from Liverpool.
Whetstone makes huge new claim about Kretinsky
Moyes told the press he expected to sign a new deal after the January window closed.
But the team’s miserable form has seen that put on ice. And the Hammers hierarchy have allegedly given the manager four games to decide his future – the first of which ended in defeat at Nottingham Forest.
One man West Ham fans rarely – if ever – hear from or about is Daniel Kretinsky.
The Czech billionaire is West Ham’s second biggest stakeholder, owning 27 per cent of the club.
Kretinsky, who has been described as ‘secretive’ in the past, has an estimated net worth in excess of £10bn.
Czech Sphinx ‘unhappy’ with how Hammers are being run
When he bought into the club many Hammers fans expected – and hoped – it was a pre-cursor to a full takeover.
Now Sean Whetstone has made a huge new claim about West Ham co-owner Kretinsky.
The board confidant, who counts majority owner David Sullivan and vice-chair Karren Brady among his contacts, says Kretinsky is unhappy with how some elements of West Ham are being run.
But in order to implement changes he may have to purchase an extra 3 per cent – which would trigger a full takeover bid.
“West Ham shareholder Daniel Kretinsky is rumoured to be unhappy with certain elements in the running of West Ham,” Whetstone claims.
‘No indication as yet…’
“With 27% voting rights he is unable force changes through himself without creating an alliance with either Sullivan 38.8% or the Gold family 25.1% to the necessary majority.
“Should Daniel Krenitsky purchase 3% or more of West Ham it would trigger a full takeover bid. Where a bidder is interested in shares carrying 30% or more of the voting share rights, the bidder must make a mandatory offer in cash at no less than the highest price paid during the preceding 12 months (often referred to as a “Rule 9 offer”).
“A rule 9 waiver is available if agreed by UK takeover panel. There is no indication as yet whether Kretinsky wishes to increase his shareholding beyond the 27% level.”
In February last year football finance expert Kieran Maguire exclusively told Hammers News that Kretinsky has no interest in a full takeover at West Ham.
Whether that has changed since remains to be seen.
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