Ten summers have passed since West Ham moved into London Stadium, and many difficult winters have followed. The Hammers begin their new campaign on Saturday with a Carabao Cup first-round match against Portsmouth, a clear sign of their diminished status after relegation from the Premier League last season. A combination of problems has made this summer particularly discouraging.
Some teams have used a season in the Championship to regroup, rebuild and return stronger. West Ham did exactly that in 2011-12, earning promotion at the first attempt under Sam Allardyce. They are among the leading candidates to go up again in 2026, but a turbulent summer and an internal battle for control have created considerable uncertainty behind the scenes.
Portsmouth are expected to bring 9,000 supporters on Saturday, but it remains unclear whether David Sullivan will attend. London Stadium’s operators reportedly advised the former joint-chair, who remains a co-owner, to stay away because demonstrations and disorder involving some spectators could occur.
Sullivan is nevertheless expected to be there, even though the supporters’ advisory board warned that his presence would cause anger and distress. He is said to want to follow the season as a fan and appears willing to wait before deciding whether to sell his 38.8% holding. Given the current circumstances, attending would be deeply unpopular. When relegation was confirmed on 25 May despite a home victory over Leeds, security concerns forced him to leave the ground early.
Sullivan rejects allegations that he engaged in sexually exploitative and predatory conduct toward women over several decades. He resigned from his position shortly before the claims were broadcast, saying he wanted to prevent the issue from disrupting the club while he dealt with it privately.
Even before the allegations emerged, Sullivan had become a focus of supporter anger over his management of a club that has declined sharply since winning the Europa Conference League in May 2023. Much of the £100m received for Declan Rice that summer was spent without producing lasting progress. Captain Jarrod Bowen, another key figure from the triumph in Prague, has committed his future to the club and will be expected to lead the promotion campaign.
Before leaving his position, Sullivan effectively operated as West Ham’s director of football, frequently causing frustration within the recruitment and sporting departments. His closest ally, Karren Brady, resigned in April as pressure increased, ending a professional partnership that had begun in 1990.
Supporters have purchased 50,000 season tickets for West Ham’s attempt to return immediately to the Premier League. However, many fans want Sullivan to sever his ties with the club entirely, and the announcement of his resignation briefly generated some optimism.
Several possible successors are now positioning themselves, although the ownership structure makes West Ham’s future difficult to predict. Sullivan’s resignation initially appeared to open the door for Daniel Kretinsky, the Czech billionaire and Royal Mail owner who acquired 27% of the club in 2021. Instead of immediately increasing his influence, he reduced his holding to just below 25% this week as part of a broader plan.
Amanda Staveley also emerged as a potential participant last weekend. She left Newcastle in July 2024 after playing a major role in the investment led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and is now seeking a return to football. Having previously been associated with a possible Tottenham takeover, she may rely on similar financial backing to pursue West Ham. Some Newcastle supporters still miss the momentum she brought to their club, and sections of the West Ham fanbase believe her contacts and enthusiasm could have an equally positive impact in east London.
Central to the ownership contest is the 25% stake formerly held by the late David Gold, Sullivan’s previous joint-chair. After Staveley’s interest became apparent, Kretinsky appeared prepared to exercise his right of first refusal and purchase the shares from Gold’s daughter Vanessa, who is now co-chair. Combining that holding with his original 27% would have taken him beyond 50.1% and required a formal takeover bid. By transferring 2% to Czech entrepreneur Jakub Havrlant, however, Kretinsky could now buy Gold’s stake without crossing that threshold. Sullivan’s shares remain crucial to the balance of control, leaving considerable interest in Staveley’s next decision.
Amid the ownership uncertainty, the squad also requires attention. Former Brighton and Ajax defender Joël Veltman became the first summer signing after arriving as a free agent. Meanwhile, Mateus Fernandes joined Tottenham and Crysencio Summerville moved to Al-Hilal in deals worth a combined £140m, roughly equivalent to a season of Premier League broadcasting revenue. The £10m sale of academy graduate Freddie Potts to Club Brugge frustrated some supporters, but further departures may be necessary to finance new arrivals. West Ham are interested in AZ Alkmaar striker Troy Parrott, Ireland’s World Cup playoff hero, although persuading players to join a Championship side remains challenging.
Nuno Espírito Santo remains in charge despite earlier expectations that he would leave. His composed approach will be important at a club where anxiety can spread quickly. Sullivan’s uncertain position, relegation and limited transfer activity have increased concern ahead of demanding league fixtures against Burnley, Charlton, Watford and Wolves before 1 September. Karim Virani, who previously worked for West Ham before leaving in 2020 and later joined Glasgow Rangers, has returned as interim chief executive as the club attempts to restore stability and unity.
London Stadium hosted concerts by Take That and Metallica this summer, as well as July’s Diamond League athletics event, where Josh Kerr set a new world mile record. A proposal to stage the 2029 World Athletics Championships was confirmed on Thursday after a disagreement between West Ham and the stadium’s operators was resolved. These events underline that the venue still does not feel entirely under the club’s control, even a decade after the departure from the Boleyn Ground.
The stadium agreement negotiated by Sullivan, David Gold and Brady continues to frustrate supporters, and Sullivan is unlikely to receive a warm reception there.
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