WHUFC.com
Lifelong fan David Sullivan has spoken of his pride at taking control of the
club he adores
20.01.2010
David Sullivan has revealed his immense pride after taking joint control of
West Ham United. The new joint chairman, who has acquired a controlling 50
per cent interest in the club along with long-time business partner and
friend David Gold - a former Hammers youth-team player who was raised in
Green Street - spoke of his pride at taking the helm at the Boleyn Ground.
The 59-year-old unveiled plans to turn the Hammers into a 'fun' club on a
strong financial footing. "I'd like West Ham United to be a family club and
a club where everyone is welcome and the supporters have respect for other
supporters. Gradually, we will improve things for the club. "What we really
want is to have some fun. We want the supporters to have some fun and the
people to enjoy it. More than anything, that's what we want for everybody."
A former student at Queen Mary College in Mile End, where he graduated in
economics, Sullivan said both he and Gold were proud to be returning to
their roots, having initially owned a stake in the club in the late 1980s.
They previously owned Birmingham City, buying the Blues in 1993 before
selling the Midlands club in October last year. "I said it at Birmingham,
that the people who should buy Birmingham should be born and bred in
Birmingham. We only bought it because no one actually born and bred in
Birmingham would buy it. I think it is nice when local people own or
part-own the local football club. To fulfil the pair's long-term goals for
the club they adore, Sullivan issued an open invite to other
Hammers-supporting businessmen to invest in the club. "I don't know what the
football term is, but this is like a government of national unity in a
crisis situation. The more people we've got to join up in unity it would be
for the good of the club. That's what we'd like."
Having met the press and office staff and posed for the traditional
pitch-side photographs at the Boleyn Ground, Sullivan said he and Gold would
introduce themselves to the players later this week. "We will probably meet
them on Wednesday or Thursday, whatever is convenient with the manager. I am
not a person who spends their life at the training ground, but I would like
to meet the players. We might have a little celebration dinner and get to
know each other. Sullivan spoke candidly about plans to reduce the club's
debts, which currently total £100m. As well as inviting in investment from
outside, the joint chairman revealed his intention to move, if possible, to
the nearby Olympic Stadium. "We have got to look at all sorts of ways of
bringing in revenue. We will be looking at everything, from saving money to
bringing money in. We want to spend the money on the team not everything
else."
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Carr drives on U18s
WHUFC.com
Tony Carr believes there is more to come from his U18s following their Youth
Cup fourth-round victory
19.01.2010
Tony Carr is demanding more from his West Ham United Under-18 side following
their 3-0 FA Youth Cup fourth-round win over Queens Park Rangers. Cristian
Montano scored twice and Robert Hall once to warm supporters' hearts on a
cold evening at the Boleyn Ground, but the Academy Director believes his
young charges could have played better football, despite the positive
result. Carr told WHUTV his players may have been trying too hard to
impress, with many making their debuts at the stadium. With a home tie with
Newcastle United to follow in the fifth round, he is hoping they are more
accustomed to their grand surroundings second time around. "It was obviously
a cup tie and the most important thing is to be in the next round, and we
won the game comfortably in the end," said Carr. "I was a little bit
disappointed with the overall performance as I thought we could have used
the ball better and passed the ball better. "Sometimes it affects the boys
when they play here as they are a little bit nervous and a little bit
anxious and maybe try to prove too much that they are good players, rather
than playing a more natural game. "The more we play here, the better, and
fortunately we've got a home draw against Newcastle, who I know were here
watching us. Hopefully, we'll put on a better performance and be less
nervous, but overall I was very pleased with the result. "I thought we could
have played a little bit better football, which I always like to do in the
showcase games here at Upton Park. It wasn't to be, but I'm glad to be in
the next round. "We have another game here and it's only a couple of weeks
away. They'll be more used to it and be in more familiar surroundings. It
may seem strange to people, but when they go and play at a stadium, it does
change the dynamics of the game."
The U18s have lost just twice in their last 12 league and cup matches, and
Carr knows there is more to come from his players, who withstood a robust,
physical approach from their opponents. Two of those to shine were Montano
and Hall, who have forged a potent partnership that has now produced 13
goals this season. While his forwards both impressed, along with left-back
Jordan Brown, Carr wants a bigger contribution from the midfield. "For a lot
of the game, we starved Robert and Cristian of any quality. They had long
periods of the game where they didn't have any of the ball, which was
disappointing, but I'm picking at nits really! I am pleased with the
result."
Having advanced to the last 16, Carr and his staff will now swot up on
Newcastle, who reached the fifth round themselves with victory over Reading.
"I don't know anything about them," Carr admitted. "We'll have to do some
homework and see if we can get some information on them, but it's really
about us again and how we play. If we play well, we'll be a match for
anybody."
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Sullivan slams Magnusson
New Hammers owner criticises previous regime for spending
By Richard Bailey Last updated: 20th January 2010
SSN
David Sullivan has slammed West Ham's previous regime for their 'crazy'
running of the club. The former Birmingham owner completed his 50 per cent
buy-out of the Hammers on Tuesday for £52.5million from the Icelandic owner
Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson. However Sullivan criticised former chairman Eggert
Magnusson for his frivolous spending over the last few years, leaving the
club with a debt of around £110million, in particular the deal that saw
Freddie Ljungberg sign from Arsenal in 2007 for £3million.
Magnusson stepped down as chairman in September 2007 and left the club
completely three months later but Sullivan, who has been joined at Upton
Park by his partner at Birmingham David Gold, insists the damage had been
done. "Clearly Mr Magnusson or Mr Egghead, thought the owner would subsidise
the club," he told The Sun. "West Ham took a player from Arsenal who was on
30,000 a week and paid him £80,000. That wasn't good business or necessary.
"It was a crazy way that wages were paid out by the Icelandics, that brought
the club to its knees. You pay good wages not crazy wages. "I'm sure some
fans will be fearful that we might be like Eggert and decimate the club. We
won't."
Remarkably Sullivan revealed that Magnusson had been in touch and asked if
the duo wanted any help running the club. "Magnusson phones us six weeks ago
and said he would like to be involved again," he staggered. "I don't know
what that man is thinking."
Meanwhile, despite insisting on Tuesday that they would strive to keep the
club's best players, Sullivan admitted that if players wanted to leave, the
new owners would not stand in their way. "If they are desperate to go and
you get the right offer, you don't want to keep unhappy players," he stated.
"Against that, I think the players have got us in the state we are in and
they are entitled to dig us out of this state. "You might have to say to a
player 'look, we will let you go, but not until the summer and only if we
stay in the Premier League. If we go down you will have a year in the
Championship. You have caused it. You will pay the price'."
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Billy Bonds against West Ham Olympic Stadium bid
BBC.co.uk
West Ham legend Billy Bonds says he is against the the club's proposed move
to the London 2012 Olympic Stadium. New West Ham co-owners David Sullivan
and David Gold, who took control of the club on Tuesday, have said they
would like West Ham to leave Upton Park. "Personally I wouldn't like to see
them move but can understand why they would want to," Bonds told BBC Radio 5
Live. "Obviously I'm in the same boat as every West Ham fan and have fond
memories of Upton Park."
Former defender Bonds, who played for West Ham for 21 years, added: "They
seem to think a move is vital in the progress of the club. "The Boleyn pub
and the actual ground - we all love that - but I suppose football today is
all about money and getting people through the turnstiles and maybe that is
the way forward."
The stadium is currently set to be reduced in size from 80,000 to 25,000
after the Olympics with the running track remaining in place. Sullivan and
Gold want to lease the stadium from Newham Council and are keen for the
running track to be removed with the capacity being around 55,000. The
Olympic Stadium in Stratford is about three miles from the Boleyn Ground,
the official name for West Ham's Upton Park home. It is a similar
arrangement that Manchester City have at their Eastlands Stadium, which was
originally built for the failed 2000 Olympic bid and later used for the 2002
Commonwealth Games. "If we could get this huge ground, we could take
football back to the people," Sullivan said. "We could reduce the admission
prices to the cheapest in the Premier League because we would have the
capacity to do it."
Sullivan and Gold completed their takeover of the debt-ridden club which is
valued a £105m on Tuesday. The pair are well used to turning around the
fortunes of football clubs having taken over bankrupt Birmingham in 1993 and
guided them into the Premier League. However, supporters complained about
season ticket price rises while they were in charge at St Andrew's. A move
to the Olympic venue would require approval from the British Government and
the Olympic Park Legacy Company, which pledged to adapt the £500m stadium
into a venue capable of hosting major athletics events as part of its
successful bid to secure the Games. The Olympic Park Legacy Company says it
is keeping an open mind on future use of the stadium "not ruling anything
in, not ruling anything out" but Sullivan said he thought there was a better
than 50-50 chance of the government agreeing to let West Ham become tenants
of the stadium. The former Birmingham co-owner also suggested it could be
cheaper to build a new track and field venue elsewhere, with Upton Park a
possible option. There is also the possibility of keeping the running track
but installing retractable seating, similar to that of the Stade de France
in Paris, although that would require significant engineering work.
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David Sullivan gives Gianfranco Zola £8m for three new players
Ken Dyer
20.01.10
Evening Standard
New co-owner David Sullivan is spending his first full day at West Ham
trying to sign a striker before next week's crucial match at Portsmouth.
Sullivan is prepared to spend up to £8million this month and has told boss
Gianfranco Zola to sign two strikers and a defender before the deadline.
Sullivan and David Gold, who paid £52.5m for a 50 per cent stake, met Zola
and assistant Steve Clarke for two hours at Sullivan's Essex home last
night. "I was hugely impressed with Gianfranco and Steve," he said today.
"It's so great to meet a man who wants to work with us and make the team
better. He has a 'can-do' attitude but with a pragmatic approach. "We agreed
we need at least one striker by the Portsmouth match and the second by the
end of the window."
Sullivan and Gold also reiterated to Zola that there is no necessity to sell
anyone in January. There had been speculation that England defender Matthew
Upson, a player at Birmingham when Sullivan and Gold were co-owners there,
would have to be sacrificed to bring in £8m needed to make interest payments
this month. Sullivan has made it clear, though, that Upson, plus other
potential targets such as keeper Robert Green and midfielder Scott Parker,
are staying put. He added: "Matthew is the captain and his return to the
team in recent weeks has coincided with improved performances. "We all
agreed that Scott, despite a lot of interest, is going nowhere. He is a
wonderful player, the heartbeat of the team. Despite the difficult times, he
has always been up for the challenge, always fighting for the badge."
Sullivan said the meeting had provided "a really open exchange of views". He
added: "Gianfranco is a really nice guy. I believe he can be a great
manager."
One striker linked with a move to West Ham has been Stoke City's James
Beattie but he is not on Zola's shortlist. The future of technical director
Gianluc Nani, meanwhile, remained uncertain after Sullivan confirmed that he
intends dealing with transfers. New vice-chairman Karren Brady also began
her job today at Upton Park. Her priority will be finding ways of cutting
West Ham's debt which, as Sullivan has confirmed, is running at £110m.
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Galatasaray go for Jo! Turks beat West Ham in bid to sign £19m Manchester
City flop
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 11:45 AM on 20th January 2010
Daily Mail
Galatasaray are set to sign Jo on loan from Manchester City for the rest of
the season. The Brazil striker is midway through a year-long loan at
Everton, but the Merseysiders are prepared to let him move after poor form
and discipline. West Ham United were thought to be weighing up a move for
the 22-year-old after wrapping up their long-awaited takeover, but
Galatasaray have beaten them to the punch. The Turkish club's sporting
director Haldun Ustunel has flown to London for talks with City and are
willing to put an attractive offer on the table. Jo is out of favour at
Goodison Park and was recently suspended by boss David Moyes for making an
unauthorised trip back to his homeland.
He is also surplus to requirements at City at the moment after failing to
make an impact since a £19million move from CSKA Moscow in July 2008.
Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola is determined to strengthen his attacking
options and has missed out on loan moves for Brazil striker Adriano and
Italy international Luca Toni already this year. New Upton Park owners
David Gold and David Sullivan admitted they were keen to bring in forwards
and defenders after completing their takeover on Tuesday. Zola continues to
run the rule over Zenit St Petersburg striker Sergey Kornilenko, who has
been training with the Hammers since last Friday. Reports that he could
revive interest in Brazil striker Adriano seem wide of the mark as the
Flamengo star has indicated he is unwilling to leave his hometown Rio de
Janeiro club until the summer.
Jo is one of a number of players who ambitious Galatasaray are looking at as
they fight for the Turkish title with Istanbul rivals Fenerbahce.
Blackburn's Benni McCarthy, Aston Villa's John Carew and Tottenham Hotspur
target Ruud van Nistelrooy are also options.
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David Sullivan wants to be at West Ham 'forever'
Evening Standard
20.01.10
New West Ham co-owner David Sullivan maintains he and David Gold are at
Upton Park "for life". The life-long Hammers fan has, along with business
partner Gold, a former youth team player at Upton Park, acquired 50% of the
Barclays Premier League outfit in a deal which values the club at
£105million and gives the duo operational and commercial control. However,
while living out a boyhood dream Sullivan - who helped turn the fortunes of
Birmingham around before selling the club last year - admitted their latest
venture made no business sense whatsoever. West Ham's overall debt stands at
around £100million, owed to both banks and other clubs, including
settlements to Sheffield United over the Carlos Tevez affair and former
manager Alan Curbishley. Sullivan, though, maintains he and Gold have come
home and pledged to look for further investment to help take the club
forwards. "We bought this as supporters, not from a business point of view,"
he said. "We will raise more money and, with other people, will dig the club
out of the mess it is in." Sullivan declared: "We plan to be here forever,
'til we die - and we hope that is a long time off. "We are here to the end.
We have not come here to hopefully bang it out to some Russian in five years
time."
The Birmingham connection is completed with the arrival of Karren Brady as
vice-chairman, with her wages set to be paid by Sullivan and Gold rather
than the club. The new owners have, though, given manager Gianfranco Zola
their full backing and will hand the manager funds with which to strength a
squad fighting to stay in the top flight, out of the relegation zone only on
goal difference. However, the future of technical director Gianluca Nani
remains unclear as Sullivan refused to be drawn yesterday on whether the
Italian's role at the club would be reviewed. Sullivan has an option to buy
the remaining 50% from Icelandic bank Straumur in the next four years, but
hopes other wealthy supporters, including Lotus F1 supremo Tony Fernandes,
whose rival takeover bid was unsuccessful, can provide more investment. "We
would like him to become a director and would like him to buy up 50% of the
club and like him on board," said Sullivan. "This is like a government of
national unity in a crisis so the more parties join up, it will be better
for the unity for the good of the club."
Sullivan - who intends to pursue the option of moving to the Olympic Stadium
after the 2012 Games - insisted: "We are not stupid people. We know what we
have done makes no financial sense at all. But it is West Ham and that is
all you can say. "Some of the poor season ticket holders, what they spend on
a season ticket relative to their income is exactly the same. "They think
'why I am doing it?'. They are doing it because it is West Ham. We are doing
it on a bigger scale."
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New Hammers owner Sullivan slams ''Mr Egghead''
By Soccernet staff
ESPN
January 20, 2010
New West Ham co-owner David Sullivan has slammed "Mr Egghead'' - ex-chairman
Eggert Magnusson - for the £110 million worth of debt that the club has run
up. Ex-Birmingham owner Sullivan took over the Hammers with business partner
David Gold on Tuesday and bought a 50% stake in the club for £52.5 million
from the Icelandic owners. However, he is not happy with the level of debt
accrued by the Magnusson regime. "Clearly Mr Magnusson, or Mr Egghead,
thought the owner would subsidise the club," said Sullivan in the Sun. "It
was a crazy way that wages were paid out by the Icelandics, that brought the
club to its knees. You pay good wages, not crazy wages. "I'm sure some fans
will be fearful that we might be like Eggert and decimate the club. We
won't. Magnusson phoned us six weeks ago and said he would like to be
involved again. I don't know what the man is thinking."
Sullivan, who is joint chairman with Gold, revealed the extent of the debt
at the club and claimed that it was as much as £110 million. "We wouldn't
buy this club at all if this wasn't West Ham,'' he said. ''It makes no
commercial sense. We must be mad. But there's £50 million owed to banks, £40
million owed to other clubs and there's not a penny to come in. Then there's
the settlement of the Alan Curbishley case. So the real debt is about £110
million."
Sullivan also slammed the signing of Freddie Ljungberg from Arsenal in 2007
for £3 million, as the Swedish midfielder played just 28 games. "West Ham
took a player from Arsenal who was on £30,000 a week and paid him £80,000.
That wasn't good business or necessary," he added.
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Cascarino: West Ham Have No Relegation Worries After Takeover
NewFootballPools.com
The West Ham takeover is great news for both Gianfranco Zola and the club's
fans as they can look to get out of the mess they are in. The much-needed
cash injection should give the Hammers the edge in the relegation battle
with known cash-strapped rivals Portsmouth, Hull and Burnley. I am
personally pleased that Zola has been backed by the new owners as the little
Italian has done a great job with the limited resources available.
Zola's team play good football and I enjoy watching the way they play. One
thing I particularly like about his work at West Ham is the way he has
undoubtedly improved players since he took charge. Carlton Cole was
ridiculed by his own fans but under Zola's guidance has become a regular
England international. He seems to have rejuvenated Scott Parker too as he
has been brilliant this season. He also has a team that works their socks
off for him which is always a good sign the players are behind him.
The takeover should allow Zola to invest in new players but don't expect the
new owners to be splashing the cash too much as they certainly didn't follow
that route at Birmingham. They are not fools and will surely make sure new
players can be brought in but not for ridiculous amounts.
I am sure they will be constructive in strengthening the squad as they will
no doubt realise that relegation would be disastrous for the Hammers. To be
totally honest I am shocked that the Hammers are where they are in the table
as they are not a bad team at all. Injuries have taken their toll but with
David Sullivan and David Gold completing the takeover, Zola can now
concentrate on getting a few more players in and climbing the table and I
have no doubt they will.
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Brady due to be unveiled
Burton Mail
KARREN Brady - the wife of Burton Albion manager Paul Peschisolido - is set
to be announced as West Ham United?s new vice-chairman. The 40-year-old
former managing director of Birmingham City is widely expected to link up
with owner David Sullivan and co-chairman David Gold after the former bought
West Ham United yesterday. Sullivan, who along with Gold was involved with
the Blues, revealed he has inherited a club with more than £100 million in
debts. He said: "We wouldn?t buy this club at all if this wasn?t West Ham.
It makes no commercial sense for anyone to buy this club and it?s amazing
that two other people wanted to buy it. "One is another West Ham supporter
(Tony Fernandes) and the Italian (Massimo Cellino), I?m not quite sure if he
looked at the books properly, but if he looked at the books he might have
walked away. "We?ve paid down some of the debt and injected some working
capital but there?s still more than £100m of debt. "In that there?s £50m
owed to banks, there?s £40m owed to other clubs. There?s not a penny to come
in, they (the previous owners) have borrowed against the next two years of
season-ticket money. "The sponsors have paid 70 per cent of their three
years up front."
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West Ham want Bobby Zamora back
By Chris Wright
WhoAteAllThePies.com
After taking the helm at West Ham yesterday, David Sullivan and David Gold
have already set their sights on bringing Bobby Zamora back to Upton Park,
just 18 months after the striker left for Fulham. The new owners have
outlined the positions that need strengthening in The Hammer's squad and
have made £15 million available to do so - with a new centre forward being
top priority. Sullivan and Gold have targeted local boy Zamora as they are
keen to reintroduce an 'East End' feel to the club (reports that Barbara
Windsor and Ronnie Kray are also on the pair's wish list are unconfirmed).
The Fulham target man has been in the best form of his career this season
after contributing 11 goals and a bagful of assists to The Cottager's cause
and I don't imagine for a minute that Roy Hodgson would be willing to let
him go anywhere. Should any prospective deal for Zamora fall through, West
Ham have also targeted not-so-local boy Jo who is currently on loan at
Everton from Manchester City. The Brazilian has fallen out of favour at
Goodison after absconding to his homeland over Christmas without permission
and West Ham are keen to take up the last six months of the 21 year old's
loan deal.
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