West Ham owners David Sullivan and David Gold are refusing to bow to fan pressure and sell the club for now, despite interest from an American consortium.
The group in the US has enquired about buying West Ham for £350million, but Sullivan and Gold have no plans to sell. West Ham say they have received no offers.
Vice-chair Karren Brady has said the club is valued at £800m, suggesting it would take a significantly higher offer for Sullivan and Gold to even consider a sale.
The relationship between the board and supporters has deteriorated since West Ham left Upton Park to move to the London Stadium in 2016. Fan groups have staged demonstrations this year and the ill-feeling has worsened following the £18m sale of Grady Diangana to West Brom this month.
Sullivan and Gold bought West Ham in 2010. While Sullivan has no imminent plans to sell, it is thought he would be open to outside investment to help boost finances.
West Ham made a pre-tax loss of £28.8m in the last financial year and the board arranged a rights issue to raise £30m earlier this year in response to the financial problems caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Sullivan owns a majority shareholding of 51.5 per cent of the club, Gold owns 35.1 per cent and American investor Tripp Smith owns 10 per cent.
Any deal would be complicated by the fact Sullivan and Gold, as part of their agreement to rent the London Stadium, would have to pay a percentage back to the taxpayer if the club is sold before March 2023.
Sullivan, Gold and Brady have faced several fan protests in recent years, most notably in March 2018, when supporters stormed the pitch and gathered in the stands below the directors’ box during a 3-0 defeat by Burnley. Tensions are running high again, following the sale of Diangana and Saturday’s 2-0 home defeat by Newcastle.
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Manager David Moyes wanted to kick on this summer after guiding West Ham to safety last season, but a restricted budget means their only signing so far has been the £16.5m deal to make Tomas Soucek’s loan move permanent. Moyes is pushing to land Burnley’s James Tarkowski (above), who is valued at £30m.
The Hammers host Charlton in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night hoping for a win to lift some of the gloom.