On This Day in 2010: David Sullivan and David Gold complete West Ham takeover
David Sullivan and David Gold completed their takeover of West Ham on January 19, 2010.
The Hammers-supporting duo sold Birmingham earlier in the 2009-10 season and took over from the Icelandic consortium that had purchased the club in 2006 before running into financial problems associated with the global crash.
The pair, who previously held a smaller stake in West Ham, acquired 50 per cent of the club in a deal which valued it at £105million and became joint chairman, with Karren Brady becoming vice-chairman.
Sullivan said: “We’ve got the club that we’ve always wanted. We are West Ham fans and I don’t think we would have bought West Ham if we hadn’t been fans as, from a business point of view, it is in a serious mess.
“The club is now back in the hands of East Enders, people who understand the community and its passion for the Hammers. I believe that depth of feeling will also bring us through what has been a difficult period.”
Sullivan set long-term goals of moving from Upton Park to the Olympic stadium – which was achieved in 2016 – and securing Champions League football within seven years.
The short-term priority of securing Premier League survival was achieved but West Ham were relegated the following season, bouncing back at the first time of asking.
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The Hammers have stayed in the top flight ever since, with their best campaign yielding a seventh-placed finish in 2015-16.
Gold and Sullivan subsequently increased their stake in the club and remain in charge.
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