West Ham have been accused of attempting to undermine fan protests as organisers confirm plans for a huge march ahead of Burnley as well as demands to change the club’s badge.
If West Ham’s owners thought the brilliant win over Newcastle would dampen fan protests against them, then they have had a rude awakening.
There will always be an element with any fanbase where results on the pitch dictate the appetite for change off it.
That was evident at West Ham when the last protest movement against the board was effectively ended by the meteoric rise from relegation contenders to European trophy winners under David Moyes.
The latest uprising from Hammers fans is unprecedented, though.
Not least because it came with a public declaration of no confidence in the ownership from the West Ham Fan Advisory Board.
West Ham accused of trying to sabotage protest
There have been two meetings between the FAB and the Hammers hierarchy, including vice-chair Karren Brady, in the six weeks or so since.
In that time West Ham fans have protested with black balloons at away games, lined the road leading to the director’s entrance before a home defeat to Crystal Palace, boycotted the home loss to Brentford and performed a sit-in after Newcastle.
Supporters have always made it clear they are behind the team and manager and that the protests are not aimed at them.
There was plenty of evidence of that at the London Stadium on Sunday where the best atmosphere for some time was rewarded with a shock 3-1 win over Eddie Howe’s Champions League outfit.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side were in danger of being cut adrift in the bottom three had they not pulled the Newcastle rabbit out of the hat.
Victory closed the gap on Burnley in the safety of 17th to three points.
And West Ham face the Clarets at the London Stadium this weekend in what is a huge six-pointer before the November international break.
The match once again comes against the backdrop of further activism from supporters who have vowed to continue their campaign all season long until changes are made from top to bottom.
There has been a new flashpoint in tensions between supporters and the ownership, though.
Ahead of the clash, West Ham have been accused of trying to sabotage the protest as a mass march plan confirmed.
The significance of protest action on the day West Ham play at home against Burnley will not be lost on anyone connected with the Hammers.
Mass march planned against West Ham owners before Burnley
March 10th 2018 is a date etched in West Ham folklore when a damaging defeat to Burnley saw tensions quite literally reach breaking point.
Some fans invaded the pitch and then captain – now sporting director – Mark Noble tackled one of his fellow West Ham fans as he sprinted onto the pitch.
West Ham majority owner David Sullivan and Brady were forced to leave the directors’ box near the end as anger boiled over and supporters chanted ‘sack the board’.
The image of Hammers legend Sir Trevor Brooking remaining unperturbed in his seat as supporters gathered in their thousands to hurl abuse at the board has become iconic since.
Now, seven-and-a-half years on from the ‘battle of Burnley’, fans are preparing to take further action as the Hammers host the same opposition as they look to push for what they believe is the greater long-term good of the club.
Thousands of fans stayed behind after the win over Newcastle to demonstrate against Sullivan, Brady and the board.
There were five designated areas where supporters came together to chant and display anti-board banners.
The demonstration — aimed at continuing the ‘No More BS’ protests led by the Hammers United fan group — has been featured heavily in the sports media.
But claims have emerged that the club tried to undermine it inside the ground.
Supporters at the game, including myself, were taken aback by the sheer volume of the music post-match.
While West Ham might argue that was in celebration of first home win since February, fans believe it was a deliberate attempt to drown out the chants of the sit-in protestors.
West Ham badge change demand confirmed
The volume seemed noticeably higher than usual and supporters have taken to social media since the game to voice their anger at what they saw as an underhanded attempt to dampen the protests.
Hammers United’s latest protest plans won’t be easily drowned out, though.
The group, which has a 25,000-strong membership, has arranged a large-scale march before the Burnley game.
Hammers United have confirmed timings and the route on its official website and is calling on supporters to add their names to the 16,000 who have signed the petition against the ownership.
The group is also calling for the board to change the club’s badge back to just ‘West Ham United’, losing the controversial ‘London’ wording added by Brady when they moved from Upton Park to the London Stadium.
“Now For the good of the Club, the fans, the players, and everyone associated with West Ham United, the BS has to end,” Hammers United said in a statement.
“The No More BS campaign calls for BS to resign from their executive roles at West Ham United. It is within the gift of BS to do this. And it is incumbent of the remaining board of directors to appoint competent, professional replacements.
“Failure to act is not an option.
“On Saturday 8th November, thousands and thousands of West Ham fans, young and old alike, will come together as one to march from Stratford Station to the London Stadium where we will hand in the West Ham Fans’ petition calling for Brady and Sullivan to go.
“Saturday 8th November is the day that we, the Claret ‘n Blue Army, the voice and heartbeat of our Club, the loyal and long suffering fans who for decades have supported the team through thick and thin, take our greatest step on the journey to getting back what has always been ours: West Ham United Football Club.
“You’ll notice there’s no London in this name. We are West Ham United, and that’s what we want on our badge!
“Ahead of the march, we want as many West Ham fans as possible to sign the petition.”
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