A boardroom power struggle at West Ham United has taken a dramatic new turn, with co-owner Daniel Kretinsky quietly restructuring his stake in an apparent bid to block a rival takeover attempt — just weeks after the club was relegated to the Championship.
A Billionaire’s Chess Move
West Ham’s ownership saga has a new twist, and it’s a calculated one. Daniel Kretinsky has reportedly reduced his shareholding in the club from 27% to just under 25% — a move sources say is designed to clear the way for him to buy up a separate stake and seize greater control, while shutting out a rival bid from Amanda Staveley’s consortium.
The Czech billionaire is understood to have sold part of his holding to fellow Czech entrepreneur Jakub Havrlant. On paper it looks like Kretinsky is stepping back. In practice, it’s a strategic repositioning that could hand him the Gold family’s 25.1% stake in the club — and with it, a serious claim to overall control.
Why the Numbers Matter
This isn’t just a numbers game — it’s a high-stakes ownership battle with a built-in trap. If Kretinsky’s total stake climbs above 50%, it triggers a contractual clause forcing him to buy out David Sullivan’s 38.8% share at an inflated price. That single clause is likely shaping every move both sides make right now.
Meanwhile, Staveley’s consortium has already struck a deal to buy the Gold family’s stake for an estimated £150 million, with the agreement reportedly finalized over the weekend. talkSPORT understands Kretinsky now intends to try to keep Staveley off the boardroom table altogether.
How We Got Here
The scramble for control has been building for months. Sullivan remains West Ham’s majority shareholder, but stepped down as chairman in June following allegations made against him, which he has firmly denied. Following that, Kretinsky reached a separate agreement with the Gold family that would have made him the club’s largest shareholder at 43%, leapfrogging Sullivan. That deal was never formally ratified — leaving the door open for Staveley’s consortium to make its move.
Staveley isn’t a newcomer to this kind of high-profile takeover fight. She previously led the Saudi Public Investment Fund’s takeover of Newcastle United before leaving the Magpies in July 2024, giving her rare firsthand experience of exactly this kind of ownership battle.
The Bigger Picture: A Club in Crisis
Whoever ends up in charge inherits a club at a genuine crossroads. West Ham dropped out of the Premier League at the end of the 2025/26 season, landing in the Championship for the first time in 14 years. The financial fallout has already forced a fire sale of key assets: Mateus Fernandes left for Tottenham in an £85 million deal, Crysencio Summerville was sold to Saudi club Al Hilal for £68 million, and academy graduate Freddie Potts departed for Club Brugge for around £10 million.
Manager Nuno Espirito Santo now carries the weight of steering West Ham straight back to the Premier League — all while the club’s ownership future hangs in the balance above him.
What’s Next?
With Kretinsky maneuvering to consolidate power and Staveley’s consortium pushing to close its deal, West Ham’s boardroom fight is far from over. The next move could determine not just who controls the club, but how quickly it can climb back to the top flight.
