Amanda Staveley watched West Ham United's 4-2 Championship victory over Wolves at London Stadium on Tuesday night as a deadline in the club's ownership saga approaches. The prospective owner was invited by co-chair Vanessa Gold, who is selling her entire 25.1% stake in a deal valuing the club at £600 million.
West Ham's win lifts them to 12th in the Championship table with 5 points from four games, their recent form reading WDLD. The Hammers have scored 8 goals and conceded 7 so far this season, leaving them 5 points behind early leaders Swansea City. Their next match is a home fixture against Derby County on Saturday, September 5th, as shown on our fixtures page.
Why was Amanda Staveley at the match?
Vanessa Gold personally invited Staveley to attend the match, according to a report from the BBC. In July, it was confirmed that Gold had reached an agreement to sell her entire stake to Staveley. The invitation came as a key deadline in the complex sale process draws near this week. Under West Ham's ownership structure, any deal with an external investor like Staveley must first be offered to the club's existing significant shareholders on a pro-rata basis.
What happens with the share sale this week?
The initial 30-day period for those shareholders to take up the offer on the same terms passes this week. Existing shareholders, including majority owner David Sullivan and Daniel Kretinsky, are given first refusal. They can then bid for any remaining shares subject to a further deadline. David Sullivan, who owns 38.8% of the club and stood down as co-chair in June, is not expected to try to increase his holding while the Football Regulator assesses his suitability as a shareholder, sources told the BBC.
How does Daniel Kretinsky's position affect the deal?
Czech businessman Daniel Kretinsky currently owns 27% of West Ham United. Last month, he said he was selling just over 2% of his stake to fellow Czech businessman Jakub Havrlant. This move is significant because if Kretinsky were to buy all of Vanessa Gold's shares without selling some first, his total shareholding would exceed 50%. That would trigger a clause forcing him to make an automatic offer for the rest of the club on unfavourable terms. The share sale to Havrlant is designed to avoid that scenario, though it is uncertain whether the transaction could face a legal challenge.
What is West Ham's current situation on the pitch?
The 4-2 win over Wolves provided a positive backdrop to the off-field discussions. The team will be looking to build momentum when they host 16th-placed Derby this weekend. Manager David Moyes will have to plan without midfielder Tomáš Souček, who is currently sidelined, as noted on our injuries page. The club's early-season stats show an attack finding its rhythm but a defence that needs tightening. Supporters can track the evolving Championship standings as the season progresses. West Ham United's next home game is against Derby County on September 5th.
