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Why David Sullivan bid is best news in last 20 years for West Ham
Ralph Ellis15 Oct 2009
Whatever David Sullivan gives to his next club, especially if that turns out to be his first sporting love West Ham, it won't be empty promises.
The 60-year-old tells it like it is - the polar opposite of the new breed of smooth-talking football owners who try to win over fans with fantasies of cups and titles.
"Most people say what the public want to hear but I tell the truth," he once said. "In my experience the people who are good at public relations are generally lying."
And that cuts to the core of a man who built his £600million fortune on porn then property and publishing - oh, and football too in 16 years as owner of Birmingham that ended with him selling his share of the club for £40m.
Sullivan believes in conflict management. Nothing nice, no pats on the shoulder, tell it like it is. In his view, bad people will crawl away and he's better off without them, good people will fight to prove him wrong.
Take French defender Franck Queudrue, publicly branded "a pile of rubbish" by the owner after Birmingham's relegation two seasons ago. A year later he was voted player of the season and Sullivan claimed the credit.
Last May he chose the day of a must-win trip to Reading to declare that failing to gain promotion would "bring Armageddon". Manager Alex McLeish was none too pleased but his players did win, did go up, and again Sullivan reckoned his warning was the prod they needed. But Gianfranco Zola shouldn't be too concerned. If there's a West Ham tradition he would restore, it's the one of backing the manager.
Born in Wales but brought up in the East End of London, Sullivan supported the Hammers in the days when Ron Greenwood then John Lyall shared nearly 30 years in the manager's office between them.
In 16 years in charge at Birmingham, he had only five bosses. And while there might have been regular fireworks with Terry Cooper, Trevor Francis, Steve Bruce and the current man McLeish, Barry Fry was the only one he ever sacked.
"I won't let that colour my judgement because as an owner he's different class," said Fry yesterday. "I learned a lot from him and his business partner David Gold that helped when I became owner of Peterborough - and from Karren Brady too, come to that.
"When I first went to Birmingham I thought she was just a gimmick but realised they are all clever people.
"David was exceptional. Nobody bought more players than me and as a manager you always want more. He'd be forever telling you that you'd blown your budget. I remember wanting to sign a winger from Benfica called Jose Dominguez who was going to cost us 80 grand.
"He insisted it wasn't going to happen. I said: 'Look, if it was any of your other businesses, if I wanted 80 grand and could turn it into a million, what would you do?' He said: 'I'd give it to you'.
"So I said: 'Well give it to me now then', and he did. We signed the player and ended up selling him for £1.4m.
"If you are willing to argue your case with him, he'll always listen. He'll let the football manager run the football side which these days is priceless.
"I'm telling you if he gets involved with West Ham it would be the best thing in that club's history for the last 20 years."
West Ham would be unfinished business for Sullivan. He once owned nearly 30 per cent of the club but had his offer to take over the rest turned down because of his background in saucy magazines and sex shops. This time nobody will mind where his money comes from - just as long as it is on the table soon enough to save Upton Park from the Championship.
Reader views (10)
Without a doubt, if it wasn't for Gold & Sullivan Birmingham would be extinct now, so all Bluenoses recognise that without them we would no longer have a club. And at West Ham they will be good in respect of managing the debt and making you a more viable business model. But it will come at a cost, and this is speaking from experience. They managed to alienate the fans on a number of occasions, charged outrageous prices for appalling football and promised everything whilst delivering little. I remember the free 'Birmingham City' watch that was available for all Blues fans. It only cost £17 in phone charges to get hold of one! The tickets were loaded with booking fees and premium rate phone lines to call the ticket office - to name but a few of the gripes! The heralding of the new £10m player was Mikkael Forsell who cost very little but they included his wages over the contract in the calculation - the announcement made at season ticket renewal time. So Hammers fans, you will have sound management if they take over but kiss goodbye to a) your money if you want to watch what will be mediocre football at best and b) any realistic chance of success in top flight football!
- Neil Allcroft, Birmingham, 16/10/2009 13:39
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Long as we're ahead of Millwall eh Steve.
Can you tell us, who is London's 9th best striker? I'm also interested in the capital's 15th best midfielder and the 4th tastiest burger.
- Stu, Beckton, 16/10/2009 09:05
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Doesnt matter who buys them, they will always be London's 5th largest club behind Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham and Fulham. Tin pot club me thinks!!
- Steve, Medway,England, 15/10/2009 16:32
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Given West Ham recently charged £61 to watch the Fulham game, £48 tickets would probably be welcome...
- Joe, Romford, 15/10/2009 16:29
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Jim - you're impressed with what Barry Fry said?? Barry Fry talks so much it's a case of a monkey with a dartboard; given enough time he'll hit 180.
Thanks for the comments Brum fans but it has to be pointed out, we already pay £50 away at the small North London club. We pay even more at that West London club with the "lifelong" fans who've been going for five years. Ticket prices are already beyond the working class fan you mention.
As for the promises of signings right before ST renewal time and winding up with bargain basement and loan players - that IS West Ham. That is what happens EVERY season. We're so used to it, it's boringly predictable.
And Paul - that's the way virtually every transfer is done nowadays anyway. No one pays the entire money up front (a couple of clubs excepted).
So in summation, if these guys want to clear our debt and carry on doing what we've always been doing, then not only are they welcome, but personally, I can't actually see the point.
- Stu, Beckton, 15/10/2009 14:39
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Gold's and Sullivan's past means nothing, they were running a club who they didn't even have passion for, just a business.
where as west ham are a very big part of their life, they are fans, and fans want success at their beloved club.
at the moment i would love stabilty at west ham, we're owned by an icelandic coucil who are using teh clubs funds to rebuild their native collaspe
- Spatial Design, Brentwood England, 15/10/2009 13:59
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Another Birmingham fan here,
I can understand West Ham fans yearning for any knight in shining armour given their current financial state. But let me tell you, Sullivan (and Gold)may bring you stability, but it will be at a cost. Blues v Villa games priced at £48, ditto the forthcoming Man City game (both live on Sky). Also, don't expect ambition, your beloved team will be chock full of loan deals soon and your transfers will be based on £300k down and payments spread over 5 years. You can kiss goodbye to any European dreams you had.
- Paul, Birmingham, 15/10/2009 11:28
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If there's one thing that epitomises the tenure of David Sullivan and David Gold at St Andrew's, it's empty promises! Their abilty to put spin and lies into the media would put Tony Blair and Alastair Campbell to shame (and believe me, these two are not media shy as we are now discovering with their predictable daily outpourings in the press).
All I'm saying to the Hammers fans is don't be fooled by what these guys tell you. The bottom line is, they're only in it to make money for themselves and they will make you believe your club is about to make big signings every summer (just before season ticket renewal time) only for all the supposed deals to fall through because they're not prepared to actually pay the money. You'll end up with bargain basement and loan players instead. On the plus side, your club will be run at a profit, but if you think these guys will be prepared to speculate in order to avoid a yo-yo existence like we have at Birmingham, then I'm afraid you'll be disappointed.
- Richard Wilson (Lifelong Birmingham City Fan), Reading, UK, 15/10/2009 10:57
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who cares what he did in the past we need him now and david gold im very impressed about what barry fry said about gold he looks honest aswell maybe with michael tabor the three could do somthing what you have is 3 westham men who are up for it i can understand sullivan speaking gloom about debt but hes a business man why pay more when you can pay less fair play to him i hope he gets us how come no one checked our iceland owners out first all you hear is the crap how he and gold got there money they never broke no laws there business men give em ago
- Jim Icf 1978, n ireland, 15/10/2009 10:44
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Don't be fooled by all the hype after watching every game in the 16 year reign of sullivan gold and brady they have basically been ran out of town by our long suffering fans! West ham will have to get used to inflated ticket prices that will drive the working class fans away and the team will be filled with free transfers and loans! Believe me this is not sour grapes! Guaranteed relegation within 2 years!
- Matt Stanley (Long Suffering Birmingham Fan!), Birmingham, 15/10/2009 09:28
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