Next Game

Cork City v West Ham

Sunday, 07 July 2013, 18:00

Friendly Match

Boleyn Ground

Last Game

West Ham 4 - 2 Reading

Sunday, 19 May 2013, 16:00

Barclays Prem

West Ham owners reveal loan

West Ham's owners David Gold and David Sullivan loaned the club £35m to help ensure their immediate return to the Barclays Premier League.

Last Updated: 04/03/13 at 21:41 Post Comment    Bet with SkyBet  Premier League. Click here to bet.

David Gold: Loaned West Ham money to ensure promotion

David Gold: Loaned West Ham money to ensure promotion

The significant figure was revealed in the club's newly-released accounts, which covered the 12 months they were in the npower Championship.

The news comes on the same day Gold revealed the club were close to agreeing their occupancy of the Olympic Stadium - a move described as a "huge financial commitment" in the club's accounts.

"I think we're close," Gold told TalkSPORT.

"It's only what I'm being promised. As we speak I'm being promised 16th March."

Gold stressed that date for an agreement - that would see West Ham move for the 2016/17 season - was not set in stone after late glitches has set the club back before.

"I'm embarrassed because I've tweeted 10 times that it's going to be next week or next month and here's a date," he said.

"The date comes and goes and then I give another date. But I think we are close."

Any move would open new sources of revenue for the club after revealing losses of £25.5m while they were in the second tier.

Turnover during that period, which followed relegation, fell by £34.4m to £46.25m although in his chairman's statement Sullivan said that was "inevitable" following the loss of TV and sponsorship income totalling £26.5m.

Sullivan also revealed his and Gold's £35m loan - £3m of which has been invested this season - was undertaken to fast-track a "three-point strategic plan".

The first stage of that plan was bringing in manager Sam Allardyce before supplying him with their cash investment to build a promotion-winning squad.

"Both myself and my partner David Gold decided to invest our money into achieving promotion and during the season we invested a further £32.2million of our cash in order to allow the manager to go into the transfer market and buy the players we needed to secure promotion," Sullivan wrote.

"During that period we brought or loaned 18 players, most notably Kevin Nolan, Matthew Taylor and Ricardo Vaz Te, investing a total of £17.1m."

Since earning promotion West Ham have spent a further £13m on players, a figure that could rise to £20m, as they pursue the final part of their three-point plan - retaining their top-flight status.

The Hammers sit 12th in the table, nine points from danger, and appear set to achieve that and collect the increased revenues from the renegotiated Premier League TV deal for next season.

That deal will take them into the proposed Olympic Stadium move as discussions with the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) apparently draw to a close.

West Ham was named the 'preferred bidder' in December and talks with the LLDC have since focused on details of the proposed move.

One of the key points has centred on how much West Ham would pay towards conversion costs.

Part of that conversion could see temporary seating erected for West Ham matches to cover the running track - which is set to remain to ensure athletics remains at the venue as part of the 'Olympic legacy'.

Gold hinted a change in the dimensions of the stadium's stands was key to him sanctioning an exit from the Boleyn Ground after 112 years.

"I won't go there if I have to look over a running track," he said.

"There are certain things I can't share with you because of the confidentiality agreement. We will only go there if it is fit for use.

"But I believe we are in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Let's face it. They've built a stadium - albeit wrong shape and size."

Gold also re-confirmed talks with Allardyce over a new deal would only take place at the end of the season.

Despite that he expects Allardyce, whose contract expires in the summer, will remain for next season.

"I'm very optimistic that Sam will be our manager next season. But we have to sit down," he said.

"The agreement with the board was that we would sit down at the end of the season not when we're safe - we are not mathematically safe as we speak."

Bet with SkyBet  Premier League. Click here to bet.

Football365 Facebook Fan Page

The Football365 fan page is a great place to meet like minded people, have football related discussions and make new friends.

Related News

Sky Bet

    • Retrieving latest Sky Bet odds

Most Commented

Readers' Comments

I

m absolutely disgusted that I've been misquoted in saying that if a chance came up to join Arsenal I would be interested. What I meant to say is if Man United or Chelsea were interested......

gulliver
Agent cools Benteke exit talk

L

FC league positions and points from last 4 seasons - 7 (61), 8 (52), 6 (58), 7 (63). Werner calls it progress, I call it mid table stability.

kolev_lfc
Reds progress delights Werner

I

s there a PR agency covering Begovich, Odemwingie, Steven Fletcher and Grant Holt or something? Why would you offer a quote like that without having been announced by either club. #headsshoulderskneesandtoesgone

Havelange
Begovic hints at Liverpool move

Footer 365

Champions League final: Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp says side can bounce back

Jurgen Klopp is backing Borussia Dortmund to reach another Champions League final despite their defeat to Bayern Munich.

Champions League final: Bayern Munich's Arjen Robben relieved by Wembley win

Bayern Munich hero Arjen Robben admitted winning the UEFA Champions League buried his previous demons.

Champions League final: Mats Hummels salutes Bayern Munich after Wembley win

Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels admitted Bayern Munich deserved to be crowned champions of Europe.

Mail Box

Wayne Rooney Is Just An Average Athlete

That's the difference between him and someone like Cristiano Ronaldo - his body just isn't right. We have mails on him, Sparky, Brendan Rodgers and the Europa Lge...

Saving The Europa League And More...

Nice one UEFA, but not far enough. We have some ideas to make the Europa League better as well as more views on Wayne Rooney, Vermaelen in midfield and...

© 2013 British Sky Broadcasting Ltd. All Rights Reserved