A shock claim has emerged about West Ham co-owner Daniel Kretinsky and fans are not happy one bit.
West Ham have attracted erroneous takeover stories like a moth to a flame in recent years.
Many were convinced West Ham majority owner David Sullivan would sell up once a penalty clause expired following their move to the London Stadium.
Under the terms of West Ham’s move to the former Olympic Stadium, Sullivan and David Gold, the co-owner who died in January 2023, were liable to pay a punitive financial penalty to the government if the club were sold for more than £300m.
That clause expired two years ago this month.
There has been an expectation – and plenty of speculation – West Ham would be ripe for a takeover since then.
Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky, who became the second-largest shareholder when he bought a 27 per cent stake for £150m in November 2021, had been regarded most likely to take full control.
Kretinsky’s net worth has doubled to £13bn in the last year, making him even more liquid for a full takeover.
The rise in his personal wealth saw the Hammers leapfrog Aston Villa and Man City to have the third richest owners in the Premier League.
West Ham fans erupt over shock Kretinsky claims
Football finance expert Kieran Maguire previously spoke to Hammers News about Kretinsky.
The Price of Football author revealed Kretinsky had no plans for a full takeover at West Ham.
Then Kretinsky confirmed he has no designs on full ownership of West Ham during a rare TV interview last June.
He did, however, state that increasing his stake in West Ham is of interest to him.
Well now quite the opposite could be about to happen.
Because Football Correspondent Graeme Bailey has claimed Kretinsky is considering selling his stake for around £200m.
Bailey said on TBR that Kretinsky is ‘somewhat frustrated with how West Ham is being run’.
He also states that the 49-year-old is unwilling to wait much longer to increase his stake.
Worse still, the ‘Czech Sphinx’ is also considering investing in a rival Premier League club.
The news has gone down like a lead balloon among Hammers supporters.
West Ham fans have erupted over the shock Kretinsky claims as Sullivan comes under fire.
Hammers supporters have taken to social media to vent their spleens about the news.
Sullivan comes under fire over Kretinsky exit claims
And most are laying the blame at the feet of Sullivan.
Reacting to the claim, one West Ham fan said: “So Kretinsky wants out. I’m not surprised, I’m sure the bigger picture was to take control but Sullivan will be hanging on, let’s be honest he’s always used his ownership as a platform and for greed. The club will not improve under his ownership but who comes in is more important.”
A second Hammers fan thinks Sullivan would only sell if to a buyer who would ultimately make him look better, saying: “He’ll sell to the worst possible person to make himself look better.”
A third West Ham fan believes the only way Sullivan will sell the club is when his estate passes it on.
He said: “I suspect his estate will sell itGeezer is going to be clinging on until his last day thinking there’s a few more pennies in it for him.”
‘West Ham fans are stuck in purgatory’
Another West Ham supporter did not hold back with his views on the situation, saying fans are now stuck in ‘purgatory’.
“Sullivan’s plan is to sit and wait he has paymasters as well that makes his greed look miniscule,” the fan said.
“They know who they are. Meanwhile the West Ham United fans continue to suffer stuck in a kind of footballing purgatory.”
Sullivan’s plan is to sit and wait he has paymasters as well that makes his greed look miniscule. They know who they are.
Meanwhile the West Ham United fans continue to suffer stuck in a kind of footballing purgatory.#GSBOUT— Poplar Tales (@PinceyKeeble1) March 22, 2025
Another observer joined the conversation, saying only Kretinsky has the kind of money West Ham need to compete at the top.
He said: “I thought Kretinsky only had a couple of billion dollars, not $10 billion. If he buys the majority of the club and is willing to invest especially in fixing the stadium situation then yes, West Ham could have a good future. But Sullivan doesn’t have the money to do it.”
When speculation of a full Kretinsky takeover emerged back in October, Sullivan shot them down in flames.
It was stated then that Kretinsky takes a completely hands-off approach at West Ham.
And it was claimed that, as the owner of more than 100 businesses, he focuses most of his time on those investments – including the protracted and controversial takeover of Royal Mail.
It was said Kretinsky leaves most West Ham matters to his trusted advisors to on West Ham’s board to look after his investment.
Earlier this season, boyhood Hammers fan Ray Parlour urged Sullivan to sell West Ham so they can realise their full potential as a Champions League club.
