Daniel Kretinsky moves to block Amanda Staveley in West Ham ownership battle

Daniel Kretinsky moves to block Amanda Staveley in West Ham ownership battle Daniel Kretinsky has made a decisive move in the battle for control of West Ham United, setting up a major ownership showdown that could block Amanda Staveley’s planned investment in the club, The Times reports. Staveley’s consortium recently agreed a £150 million deal to buy the 25.1% stake owned by the family of the late David Gold.  However, under West Ham’s shareholder agreement, the current shareholders have the right to match that offer before any outside buyer can complete a purchase. Kretinsky has now moved to strengthen his position.  The Czech billionaire, who is also the club’s co-chair, has reduced his own shareholding from 27% to below 25% by agreeing to sell more than two per cent to Czech entrepreneur Jakub Havrlant.  That would allow him to bid for the Gold family’s entire stake without taking his ownership above 50%. Crossing that threshold could activate a clause in the 2021 shareholder agreement that requires Kretinsky to buy David Sullivan’s 38.8% stake at a much higher price.  By staying below 50%, he avoids that risk while still positioning himself to become the club’s largest and most influential shareholder. If Kretinsky succeeds in acquiring the Gold family’s shares, he would likely gain effective control of West Ham, thwarting Staveley’s hopes of becoming part of the ownership group. The ownership process includes two bidding stages. Current shareholders first have 30 days to purchase shares in proportion to their existing holdings.  Any shares left unsold then move into a second round, where shareholders who took part in the first stage can compete for the remaining stock.  Kretinsky is looking to secure the full 25.1% stake through the second process, although his strategy could depend on joining forces with American investor Albert Tripp Smith, who owns 8% of the club. Sullivan stepped down as co-chair earlier this year after allegations of sexual misconduct dating back to the 1980s surfaced. He has vehemently denied the claims and described them as false.