West Ham‘s co-owner David Sullivan has responded to criticism over the club’s London Stadium, claiming the Hammers decision to leave Upton Park has divided fans… just like Brexit.
Sullivan and fellow co-owner David Gold took control of West Ham back in 2010, with the duo backing the club’s bid to move into the Olympic Stadium in 2013.
However, the Premier League side are now under serious pressure to re-negotiate their stadium deal, with a recent report exposing how the cost of it had spiralled out of control.
Sullivan insists that “large chunks” of West Ham’s young fan base love the club’s new home, while the older generation of more “hard-core” supporters miss Upton Park.
The 68-year-old went on to compare the age split between those who support the club’s move and those who have rallied against it to Europe’s decision to leave the European Union.
Speaking with Guardian journalist Jacob Steinbeg, Sullivan revealed:
Some Sullivan that didn't make the article: "I think the old hard-core supporters, the 55-70 year olds, miss Upton Park. Large chunks of the supporters love the new stadium, particularly the young ones. There’s a big age split. It’s a bit like Brexit." #whufc
— Jacob Steinberg (@JacobSteinberg) December 8, 2017
Steinberg was quickly inundated with fans slamming Sullivan’s Brexit comments:
Costing the tax payer millions, you can’t see what’s going on and we’ll end up in the second division
— John Stern (@JStern_Cricket) December 8, 2017
a bit like Brexit? A fucking shambles of unbelievable proportions? A huge undertaking of self-harm? I suppose it is
— Mr Spike T (@PikesReturn) December 8, 2017
I hate that even more. Especially as I am in that demographic, voted remain and supported the LS migration in principle and with many £££. I don’t miss Upton Park. I just want them to do the job properly
— Andy Ellis (@ndy_ellis) December 8, 2017
"Large chunks of the supporters love the new stadium".
More lies & bullshit…
— casualbadges (@casualbadges) December 8, 2017
That’s bullshit. He might ‘think’ that but he is totally wrong. Supporters from all age groups can’t stand the new place
— Alan Reynolds (@alanreynoldswhu) December 8, 2017
West Ham’s disastarous start to the season has showed little sign of improving as we approach the New Year, despite the Hammers board sacking Slaven Bilic and replacing him with David Moyes.
And the task of staying afloat in the Premier League doesn’t get any easier, with Chelsea next up in West Ham’s fixture list.
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