Staveley Attends West Ham Win as Share Sale Deadline Nears

Prospective West Ham United owner Amanda Staveley attended the club's 4-2 Championship victory over Wolves at London Stadium on Tuesday as a deadline in the proposed sale of shares approaches. BBC Sport reported that co-chair Vanessa Gold invited Staveley to the match.

Gold agreed in July to sell her entire 25.1% stake to Staveley in a transaction that valued West Ham at £600 million, according to the BBC report. Gold had previously reached an agreement with the club's other co-chair, Daniel Kretinsky, for the sale of part of her holding.

West Ham's ownership structure gives current significant shareholders pre-emption rights when a deal is agreed with an outside investor. The external offer must first be presented to those shareholders on the same terms and on a proportional basis. Existing investors receive first refusal, followed by an opportunity to purchase any shares left available under a further deadline.

The initial 30-day period for shareholders to accept the offer is due to expire this week. BBC Sport said the outcome remains unclear. David Sullivan is West Ham's largest shareholder with 38.8%, while Kretinsky owns 27%. Sullivan stepped down as co-chair in June.

Kretinsky said last month that he was selling slightly more than 2% of his stake to Czech businessman Jakub Havrlant. BBC Sport reported that this could allow Kretinsky to acquire all of Gold's shares without taking his holding above 50%. Crossing that threshold would activate another clause requiring him to make an automatic offer for the rest of the club on terms described by the report as unfavourable.

Sources familiar with the matter told BBC Sport that Sullivan is not expected to seek a larger stake while the Football Regulator considers his suitability to remain a shareholder. The report also said it is uncertain whether Kretinsky's proposed share sale could face a legal challenge because it would enable him to avoid buying the entire club. Staveley's appearance at Tuesday's match came while those ownership questions remain unresolved.