Simon Jordan believes West Ham United ‘will miss’ Karren Brady as the long-time ally of David Sullivan announces her sudden departure from the London Stadium.
Less than 24 hours after the Hammers and Crystal Palace played out a goalless draw in South London, former Selhurst Park chairman learned that an old sparring partner was out the door some 15 miles down the road.
Brady’s exit from West Ham was confirmed on Tuesday morning.
What legacy will Karren Brady leave behind at West Ham? 💭
Brady's favourite moment was the Conference League win 🏆
And while the 57-year-old vice-chair became a highly contentious figure among the fanbase – anti-Sullivan and Brady chants could be heard during most of West Ham United’s matches in 2025/26 – Simon Jordan is of the opinion that her influence and personality will not be easily replaced.
Simon Jordan reacts to Karren Brady’s West Ham United exit
“Karren Brady was with David Sullivan and Gold for a long time,” says Jordan, who knows the Edmonton-born Baroness better than most. “She is an enforcer, Karren; she’s a very strong character.
“There’s the old expression: ‘How do you know Karren is not lying? Her lips aren’t moving!’ That was the sort of mean-spirited observation about how people do business…
“Karren was hard. I did business with Birmingham on a number of occasions and it wasn’t always the most pleasurable experience. A very capable operator. Very capable at certain things, very motivated. I’m surprised she’s been there as long as she has. I’m surprised she stayed with Sullivan and Gold initially as long as she did. I don’t think she always saw eye to eye with them.
“I think she’s been very resourceful for them. She does a lot of their dirty work and gets things done; whether it’s players being sold, circumstances being contended with, or challenges being overcome, because she is very resilient, Karren.”
Former Crystal Palace chief thinks Hammers ‘will miss’ Brady
Jordan, who spent ten years as Crystal Palace’s chairman from 2000 to 2010, labels Brady the ‘intellectual capacity’ behind the David Sullivan, David Gold ownership at West Ham.
“Do you remember the old Spitting Image sketch when Margaret Thatcher used to send in Norman Tebbit as her enforcer? That is what David did with Karren!” Jordan chuckles.
Sixteen contentious years…
Tell us Brady's most controversial moment…
“Karren doesn’t blink. She will say one thing and do another. But she was a groundbreaker – lots of people didn’t like Karren, and lots of people admired her. I fall into the category of both.
“There is a disingenuity dealing with those guys. What is up is down; what is black is white. What you say and what you agree is not what ends up being the deal. That’s not the way I do business. But she is a very strong character.
“She will be missed by them!
“Karren was always in all of the meetings, whether it was the Premier League or Football League meetings. Karren was always there. She was the intellectual capital. She was as smart as paint. She’s cunning; she has attributes that some people would say are challenging to deal with.
“But she talks about resilience, overcoming adversity… they will miss her. How they fill that gap, I don’t know.”
Jordan was at the helm of Crystal Palace when Brady’s Birmingham City ‘nicked’ manager Steve Bruce back in 2010. While he could not resist a swipe as his old head coach, Jordan applauds Brady for becoming such a force in a male-dominated environment.
“She has orchestrated outcomes to be in the position she’s in, in a sport that didn’t necessarily welcome women in positions of management,” Jordan explains.
“I remember when Steve Bruce was my manager at Palace, he had fired a female masseuse because he didn’t think there was a place for women in sport. When he went to Birmingham, I told Karren: ‘You do remember that when you nicked him?’ That was my little passing gift…
“She is very capable.”
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