West Ham  was given a strong warning massage  ‘grow up’ with next owner mooted by Neil Moxley

West Ham  was given a strong warning massage  ‘grow up’ with next owner mooted by Neil Moxley

Neil Moxley has told West Ham United to “grow up” and suggested that a new owner could help the club build upon their Europa Conference League success in his column for the Sunday People.

The Hammers won their first piece of silverware since 1980 when they defeated Fiorentina 2-1 on Wednesday (7 June), confirming their position in the Europa League for next season.

Daniel Kretinsky, who currently owns 27% of the club, has been the “most likely” figure to take over West Ham, but the threat of Premier League relegation put this option on the back burner in recent months. [The Guardian, 8 March]

Writing for the Sunday People [11 June, page 53], Moxley suggested a new owner could help the club “elbow” their way into clubs further up the Premier League table.

“However, it is difficult to escape the nagging feeling that this feels like the end of an era at West Ham,” he wrote.

“And equally, for David Sullivan, who lost his friend and business partner David Gold this year, there was no sting in the tail.

But the question must be asked: Is this the time when West Ham United should grow up – or rather, grow bigger?

“The trend over the past few years, as if anyone could have missed it, has been for football to shift towards a quasi-franchise model. Big clubs are expanding, leaving the smaller ones behind.

“Maybe it’s time to step aside. To cash in those chips and see if West Ham can attract the kind of investor who can build on this success and elbow their way into the pack.”

Natural end

If Sullivan were to ever bring his tenure to an end at the London Stadium, this would be the perfect time.

Despite enduring a tough Premier League campaign under David Moyes, finishing 14th with just 40 points, the European campaign lifted spirits throughout the club.

The feelgood factor at the trophy parade was something to behold, and Sullivan, alongside Moyes, have never held a higher stock.

If the 74-year-old businessman believes he has it in him to take West Ham up to the next level with a new burst of investment in the transfer market, then most fans will be happy for him to stay on, however, whether this will be the case is debatable.

The club are likely to reap upwards of £100million for Declan Rice, but once this money has been spent, does Sullivan possess the ambition and money to keep up with the Premier League’s top dogs?

This and many other questions remain unanswered, but Moxley has highlighted an interesting point of debate.