David Sullivan has stepped down as joint chairman and director of West Ham United with immediate effect, the club confirmed on Friday evening, following the emergence of historical allegations dating back more than three decades. The 77-year-old, who has been at the helm of the East London club since 2010, will sever all operational ties pending the outcome of an independent investigation commissioned by the board.
In a statement released shortly after 6pm, West Ham said Sullivan had “decided that it is in the best interests of the club, its supporters and his family” to relinquish his duties. Vice-chair Karren Brady will assume interim chairmanship duties, with day-to-day football operations remaining under the stewardship of technical director Tim Steidten and manager Julen Lopetegui. The allegations, which Sullivan “categorically denies”, relate to conduct in the early 1990s and were first reported by The Athletic earlier this week.
A 16-year reign ends in turmoil
Sullivan’s departure brings down the curtain on one of the most polarising ownership tenures in modern Premier League history. Together with the late David Gold, he purchased a controlling stake in West Ham in January 2010 for a reported £105m, inheriting a club drowning in debt and staring down the barrel of administration. Under his watch, the Hammers have lifted the Europa Conference League in 2023 — their first major trophy in 43 years — secured the £2.5bn move from Upton Park to the London Stadium in 2016, and posted record commercial revenues of £253m in the last financial cycle.
Yet the relationship with the fanbase has frayed badly in recent years. The stadium move, initially sold as transformative, became a flashpoint for protests in 2018 and again in 2024 over the club’s perceived direction. The £105m sale of Declan Rice to Arsenal in the summer of 2023 — followed by what supporters’ groups described as “underwhelming” reinvestment — drew sustained criticism. A 14th-place finish last season, the club’s lowest since promotion in 2012, intensified calls for a change at the top.
That change has now arrived, though not in the manner anyone anticipated. Czech billionaire Daniel Křetínský, who currently holds a 27% stake purchased from the Gold estate in 2021, is widely expected to accelerate a full takeover bid. Sources close to the process suggest Křetínský’s vehicle, 1890s Holdings, has the first option on Sullivan’s 38.8% shareholding, valued at approximately £190m based on the most recent independent assessment.
What the allegations entail
The historical allegations centre on Sullivan’s business activities in the early 1990s, predating his football involvement with Birmingham City, which he co-owned from 1993 to 2009. The Athletic’s investigation, which the publication says took 11 months to compile, contains testimony from four named individuals and references documents lodged with HMRC at the time. Sullivan’s legal representatives, Carter-Ruck, issued a statement on Wednesday describing the claims as “wholly without foundation” and confirming legal action is being prepared.
The Premier League’s owners’ and directors’ test, updated in 2023 to include “integrity provisions”, requires the league to assess whether a controlling shareholder remains fit to hold office. A Premier League spokesperson confirmed on Friday night that the matter is “being kept under review” but stopped short of opening a formal disqualification process. The Football Association has not commented.
- Sullivan’s 38.8% stake is the largest single holding at West Ham
- Karren Brady has served as vice-chair since 2010, joining from Birmingham City
- Daniel Křetínský’s option on the Sullivan shareholding reportedly expires in March 2027
- Independent investigation to be led by King’s Counsel Adam Heppinstall
What happens next at the London Stadium
Lopetegui’s squad travel to Brighton on Sunday afternoon sitting 11th in the Premier League, four points clear of the relegation zone but seven adrift of the European places — a position that reflects the club’s wider drift. The Spaniard, appointed in May after Julen’s predecessor David Moyes departed, has spoken privately of his frustration at the lack of clarity around the January transfer window. That uncertainty now deepens.
Brady, who has shouldered much of the public-facing burden during Sullivan’s increasingly reclusive final years, faces an immediate test. The interim chair must steady a dressing room rocked by the news, reassure commercial partners ahead of a critical kit deal renegotiation with Umbro due in February, and navigate a takeover process that could fundamentally reshape the club’s ownership structure within months.
For supporters who have campaigned for a change of ownership for nearly a decade, the manner of Sullivan’s exit offers no satisfaction. The Hammers United pressure group released a measured statement on Friday night calling for “stability, transparency and a swift resolution” — three things the club has rarely enjoyed in equal measure under the outgoing chairman’s stewardship.
Sports journalist and editor at SportsPortal.net. Covers cricket, football, Formula 1, tennis, and basketball with a focus on how global sports connect with Pakistani audiences. Follows the PSL, Pakistan national cricket team, Premier League, and major international tournaments. Has reported on sports for digital audiences since 2021.
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