Hutchison urges West Ham owners to sell amid fan unrest

Former West Ham midfielder Don Hutchison has called on David Sullivan to sell the club as fan frustration with the ownership grows.

The Hammers host Brentford on Monday evening in the Premier League, but the fixture is set to be overshadowed by a planned boycott from sections of the support. Protesters are demanding a change of ownership, citing a lack of long-term vision for the club.

Speaking to an online outlet, Hutchison criticised Sullivan and vice-chair Karren Brady for prioritising profits over the future of West Ham.

“I think it’s time they sell up. I think David Sullivan and Karren Brady are focused on making money more than they are focused on doing what is best for West Ham,” he said.

The former Scotland international took aim at the club’s failure to provide supporters with a permanent stadium to call their own.

“They will not build the fans a home. How can a football club not have a home? They should figure out how to build a stadium and give the club a legacy to build on from their ownership.”

Hutchison drew comparisons with Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy, who oversaw the building of one of the world’s most modern stadiums and training facilities in north London.

“Daniel Levy, for all his critics, has given Tottenham one of the world’s best training facilities and a great new stadium. That’s a real legacy. What has David Sullivan got? He delivered a Conference League trophy, but that tournament wasn’t even in existence when he promised European success so the bar must have been higher. It’s an achievement, but he can’t suggest it’s the same thing, or what he meant.”

Hutchison added that he had met Sullivan previously and would urge him to leave a lasting legacy for supporters.

“If I met him again, I’d implore him to give the fans a stadium of their own. The supporters who have been with them for decades, they need that.”

West Ham moved to the London Stadium in 2016 following their departure from Upton Park. While the ground has increased capacity, many fans remain unconvinced it has ever truly felt like home.