WHU ownership and shareholders

adminadmin
edited September 4 in Management & Board
This discussion was created from comments split from: Not Sure What Thread/Where to put it (from Feb 2026).



I've split these comments off from the 'Don't know' thread as it is likely to be an ongoing discussion, or at least a topic that people might want to revisit.

Comments

  • FortuneseekerFortuneseeker
    Interesting point MrsG. Makes all the anger towards Amanda Staveley and her plans slightly misplaced as they are blaming that on DK not investing the money he said he would put into transfers on him holding money back to fend off any moves by AS's consortium.
  • Expat_HammerExpat_Hammer
    Fortuneseeker said:

    Interesting point MrsG. Makes all the anger towards Amanda Staveley and her plans slightly misplaced as they are blaming that on DK not investing the money he said he would put into transfers on him holding money back to fend off any moves by AS's consortium.

    As I understand it, up until the 30th June we would have been an EPL club under different rules, where the amount he could have invested / injected was far higher, hence the £100m figure that was quoted.

    His cash injection, as a loan, was dependant on the sale of the shares from VG to DK.

    However, Stavely throwing a rather large spanner in the works caused VG to renege on her deal with DK, so no loan was made.

    Without the loan we then have to spend the income from sales to service the debts rather than the loan from DK.

    I'd not be at all surprised if this didn't have shortys little fingerprints on it somewhere as he and Stavely have previous dealings together.
  • FortuneseekerFortuneseeker
    Expat, I agree fully with your last sentence but why surely he wants what is best for the club 😉.
  • Expat_HammerExpat_Hammer
    Supposedly an announcement from the club at 17:00 BST
  • BubblesNeverDiesBubblesNeverDies
    Are they running late?
  • ScotHammerScotHammer
    I heard a rumour that Kretinsky had bought more shares. If true, it could be that?
  • DJ HammerDJ Hammer
    Apparently Sullivan’s share in West Ham has just gone from 38.8% to 40% he’s not going anywhere. Kretinsky has become the largest shareholder with 46%. Club statement to follow
  • ScotHammerScotHammer
    DJ Hammer said:

    Apparently Sullivan’s share in West Ham has just gone from 38.8% to 40% he’s not going anywhere. Kretinsky has become the largest shareholder with 46%. Club statement to follow

    Has it been announced then?
  • ScotHammerScotHammer
    Sorry DJ, didn’t read properly. You said “statement to follow”. 🤪
  • claretandblueskyclaretandbluesky
    edited September 3
    I am not sure what Sullivans aim and strategy is. I don't feel he has a future in the club and would be amazed if he thinks he has. I would have thought the aim would be to maximise the amount he eventually receives for his shares, so I am not sure what buying more will do, I guess Gold will be the kingmaker eventually.
  • IronHerbIronHerb
    claretandbluesky said:

    I am not sure what Sullivans aim and strategy is. I don't feel he has a future in the club and would be amazed if he thinks he has. I would have thought the aim would be to maximise the amount he eventually receives for his shares, so I am not sure what buying more will do, I guess Gold will be the kingmaker eventually.

    Golds gone.
  • LukerzLukerz
    edited September 3
    So all shareholders raise their shares & Gold departs the scene. Staveley to purchase shares of DS & TS should we return to PL?
  • MrsGreyMrsGrey
    So, is there a statement on the club site?

    I can't see it under 'latest news' or 'club news'...

  • claretandblueskyclaretandbluesky
    I am not sure how accurate my understanding is but from looking around each current owner had a right to purchase a percentage of the Gold shares and chose to do so.

    • Sullivan acquired 13%.
    • Kretinsky acquired 9%.
    • Tripp-Smith acquired 2.68%.
    • Brown & Harris acquired 0.37%.

    So her shares are now gone and if a new buyer wants to gain control of the club they would need purchase from these shareholders.

    The main sharholders now are
    Kretinsky 46%
    Sullivan 40%
    Tripp- Smith 11%
  • FortuneseekerFortuneseeker
    Has anyone contemplated the thought that Tripp Smith could side with DS and be able to vote in his favour with their now 51%. Various theories floated yesterday one of which is AS buys the Sullivan shares who was simply increasing his cash in amount and in turn the other 11% so she then becomes the controlling shareholder.
  • jay_in_cptjay_in_cpt
    So if Amanda Staveley still wants in she'll have to cough up big time to buy Sullivan's shares, and I mean big time.....If my thinking is right....An amount that Kretinsky wouldn't match......

    Re Sullivan, perhaps he should just step down and put the shares in his son's name now,
    I mean I can't blame his son for his father's actions ( not re allegations, more his control of club issues ).....not sure this is what we all want/ed, but if it has to be the best option, I don't know...

    Trying to think positive in what is still somewhat of a mess IMO, with Sullivan still around...

    All IMO of course.
  • jay_in_cptjay_in_cpt
    I should have read @Fortuneseeker post 1st....but thoughts are similar!
  • Expat_HammerExpat_Hammer
    Fortuneseeker said:

    Has anyone contemplated the thought that Tripp Smith could side with DS and be able to vote in his favour with their now 51%. Various theories floated yesterday one of which is AS buys the Sullivan shares who was simply increasing his cash in amount and in turn the other 11% so she then becomes the controlling shareholder.

    He can't sell without preemption, so DK could buy 3% of the club shares and with his bestie fellow Czech holding 2.2% gives him effectively 51.2% of the company.

    Who wants to buy a minority shareholding in a football club, so in effect staveley is scuppered unless she and her band of merry mercenaries really want to pay over the odds.
  • FortuneseekerFortuneseeker
    AS has been to more West Ham games than DK this season? Her arrival on the scene seriously jinxed his plans so I hope he is able to now put in place what he said he would do in June and our transfer window in January will reflect that.
  • jay_in_cptjay_in_cpt
    Expat_Hammer said:

    Fortuneseeker said:

    Has anyone contemplated the thought that Tripp Smith could side with DS and be able to vote in his favour with their now 51%. Various theories floated yesterday one of which is AS buys the Sullivan shares who was simply increasing his cash in amount and in turn the other 11% so she then becomes the controlling shareholder.

    He can't sell without preemption, so DK could buy 3% of the club shares and with his bestie fellow Czech holding 2.2% gives him effectively 51.2% of the company.

    Who wants to buy a minority shareholding in a football club, so in effect staveley is scuppered unless she and her band of merry mercenaries really want to pay over the odds.
    I think she might just do that....Lets see..
  • MrsGreyMrsGrey
    Fortuneseeker said:

    AS has been to more West Ham games than DK this season? Her arrival on the scene seriously jinxed his plans so I hope he is able to now put in place what he said he would do in June and our transfer window in January will reflect that.

    If you are referring to the £100m, he won't. As I explained previously, we are in the Champo now and there are different (lower) limits.
  • FortuneseekerFortuneseeker
    Shouldn't that fact have been brought to his attention before he made his statement in June? 🤷‍♂️. That emoji is for him not you MrsG 👍.
  • claretandblueskyclaretandbluesky
    It's hard to know and only time will tell but I am happier at this point with Kretinsky than Staveley. He has shown great patience in staying invested whilst having no real power for some time. I also liked the reports that he personally sought to persuade Bowen to stay by taking him to Prague to sell the plan forward, it shows someone in touch with the players and I suspect Bowen is no idiot and must have considered him genuine.

    I feel being in London and with a good fan base here and, a decent one abroad, we will always remain attractive to investors if it should all go pear shape in the current boardroom.
  • IronHerbIronHerb
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cly45z47543o
  • IronHerbIronHerb
    Fortuneseeker said:

    Shouldn't that fact have been brought to his attention before he made his statement in June? 🤷‍♂️. That emoji is for him not you MrsG 👍.

    DK's plan was derailed by AS joining the party. I for one fully expected him to put the £100m into the club but once AS turned up he couldn't be confident he would be in charge so opted out, as would anyone.
  • thornburyironthornburyiron
    Statement on OS just states plan in place for Kretinsky to be largest single shareholder. No further comments until it’s all gone through.

    I read last week that part of AS plans were to buy the stadium, take on its debts and totally remodel it which Khan and the legacy company have hinted is a possibility. I wonder if Kretinsky has a similar ambition.
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