Amanda Staveley targets West Ham stake and London Stadium ownership

Amanda Staveley is pursuing a significant stake in West Ham United, with ambitions that extend beyond club ownership to the potential acquisition of the London Stadium. The venue currently incurs an average annual loss of approximately £19 million, and ownership of the facility is viewed as a transformative move for the club.

However, Staveley faces significant hurdles in her bid. Her company, PCP, would likely require wealthy partners to compete with existing multi-billionaire shareholder Daniel Křetínský. Křetínský has recently utilized pre-emption rights by selling a portion of his stake to Jakub Havrlant, a move that could potentially thwart Staveley’s efforts.

The power struggle is centered on the 25.1 per cent stake held by Vanessa Gold. While Gold may have agreed to sell to PCP, Křetínský remains a central figure in determining the outcome. Additionally, David Sullivan remains the club’s largest shareholder with a 38 per cent stake, presenting a further obstacle to a change in leadership.