Ray Parlour told David Sullivan to sell up so West Ham can realise their true potential as a top four club and now fans might see why.
Daniel Kretinsky has maintained an air of mystery since buying 27 per cent of West Ham just under three years ago.
While other club owners have very public profiles and converse regularly with fans and the media, Kretinsky – as in his business life – prefers to stay in the shadows.
The “Czech Sphinx” became West Ham’s second biggest stakeholder behind David Sullivan in November 2021.
Kretinsky paid £150m for his share. And there has been speculation – and hope among many fans – that it was a pre-cursor to an eventual full takeover.
The billionaire emerged from the shadows back in June to give a rare TV interview.
And Kretinsky stated his heart is fully with West Ham. So much so he wants to increase his stake in the club if the opportunity arises.
Parlour called on majority owner Sullivan to sell West Ham last week so the club can reach its full potential.
West Ham fans might be echoing those calls when they hear about Kretinsky’s plans.
West Ham have been the fifth biggest spenders in the Premier League since his arrival.
In the last 12 months, Kretinsky’s net worth has doubled from around £6bn to a whopping £13bn.
That has made West Ham the third richest club in the Premier League in terms of ownership.
Kretinsky plans to build brand new stadium
The Czech billionaire is, by some distance, the richest man at West Ham.
And many fans feel he would have the money to not only drive further ambition in the transfer market but fix the club’s biggest issue – it’s training ground and stadium.
West Ham’s training facilities at Chadwell Heath and more recently Rush Green have been the source of ridicule for many years.
Other clubs including Chelsea, Spurs, Liverpool, Brighton, Burnley, Norwich and Leicester have invested big money in building new state-of-the-art facilities.
With at least 10 per cent of the Gold family stake still up for sale at West Ham, some fans hope Kretinsky could increase his share.
West Ham fans will certainly be hoping that might be the case given the extraordinary growth in his wealth.
Now Kretinsky plans to build brand new stadium and it shows West Ham what’s possible.
Plans show West Ham what’s possible
As Hammers fans will be well aware, the Czech money man also owns Sparta Prague.
He has been given the green light to build the country’s most decorated club a brand new £150m stadium.
The decision was made during the country’s football association’s general meeting, with no votes against and four delegates abstaining. Sparta Prague met all the required conditions and has offered to pay for the land over 30 years.
Sparta currently plays its home matches at the Letna Stadium (also known as the epet ARENA), which has been used since 1917 and houses around 18,300 spectators. The new ground will double the capacity.
It is reported in the Czech Republic that the new stadium will also have a significant impact on the sport in the country, as it will become the largest football stadium there, surpassing the Fortuna Arena of rivals and neighbours Slavia Prague – where West Ham enjoyed their most famous night for 43 years last summer.
Kretínsky’s plans are seen as evidence of his growing wealth and empire in his homeland.
At West Ham it will be seen as evidence of what might be possible for them if Kretinsky did take over the club.
Hammers co-owner clearly willing to invest wealth in right areas
He clearly has the money to invest in training facilities fit for the Premier League’s third richest club who are in the top 16 across Europe in terms of income.
Better still Kretinsky has the kind of money that could see the Hammers own their own ground again one day or at least be able to invest to significantly reconstruct the bowl-shaped arena so the stands are closer to the pitch.
That is one of the biggest grievances West Ham fans have about the London Stadium.
And there was speculation Kretinsky intended to do just that when he was linked with a full takeover last year.
Kretinsky’s soaring net worth has recently officially made him the richest man in the Czech Republic and one of the wealthiest in all of Europe.
Czech website Expats CZ reports Kretinsky is fixated on amassing a global empire.
West Ham fans will hope his foothold in London is just the start of grander future plans for their club.
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