Angry West Ham owners hit out at ex Everton chief for new takeover ‘leak’

Both the Hammers and Toffees have been subject of much takeover talk in recent seasons.

Given the huge following and potential of both clubs, that’s entirely understandable.

West Ham had been on a rapid rise in recent years, winning a trophy and securing three consecutive seasons of European football.

Meanwhile, Premier League rivals Everton have been struggling badly and fighting relegation.

So both the Irons and Everton have looked ripe for new investment for different reasons.

The likes of Ray Parlour have urged West Ham’s owners to sell in order for the club to reach its full potential.

West Ham owners hit out at ex Everton chief over takeover ‘leak’

Last month, in the wake of Parlour’s call for David Sullivan to sell up at West Ham, former Everton CEO Wyness claimed on a podcast that West Ham were the next club on the rank set for a full takeover.

Wyness even went as far as to state talks about a takeover were already taking place.

A board confidant spoke out at the time saying the rumours were ‘seriously unsettling West Ham’s players’.

Now the same man has been at it again.

And angry West Ham owners have hit out at ex Everton chief Wyness over his new takeover ‘leak’.

The 66-year-old served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs.

He claims to have contacts inside West Ham and says the Hammers are “available to bidders”.

Not only that, Wyness claimed on a podcast that he expects takeover movement in the new year, suggesting West Ham could be valued at close to £1bn.

The claims have not gone down well in the West Ham boardroom, Hammers News can exclusively reveal.

We put Wyness’ claims to the top spokesman for the club’s owners.

Hammers hierarchy left baffled by Wyness claims

The furious response is emphatic and damning with the fact Wyness is a former Everton CEO used as a rad flag for the validity of his latest ‘leak’.

“It is rubbish,” the spokesman close to West Ham’s owners told Hammers News.

“West Ham United is not for sale, other than SOME of the Gold family shares.

“What would a FORMER CEO of Everton know about West Ham United!?

“We’re not sure why he feels it necessary to comment on West Ham!”

Some West Ham supporters had anticipated a full takeover attempt from the club’s second biggest stakeholder Daniel Kretinsky.

The Hammers are the Premier League’s fifth biggest spenders since Kretinsky’s arrival.

The Czech billionaire, who is now worth around £13bn after doubling his value in the last 12 months, has been described as ‘secretive’.

And he has a multitude of other business interests as part of his growing empire.

During a rare TV interview back in June, Kretinsky said his heart is fully with West Ham. Although he did rule out a full takeover.

As West Ham’s spokesman points out, a portion of the Gold family shares remain for sale after an announcement from Vanessa Gold on the club’s website in October last year.

If West Ham were to get new owners, it would take some going for them to have more money than the current hierarchy.

The Hammers’ ownership is the third richest in the entire top flight with a combined net worth of over £14bn.

That’s behind only Man United (£19.2bn) and Newcastle (£478bn).

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