Kretinsky share sale hinders Staveley's West Ham bid

What the report says

West Ham co-chair Daniel Kretinsky has sold a little more than 2% of his holding in the club to Czech investor Jakub Havrlant, a move that could affect Amanda Staveley’s attempt to buy into the club. BBC Sport reported that the sale comes as the Gold family has agreed plans to sell its shares to a Staveley-led consortium, but those plans are still subject to West Ham’s pre-emption rights, which give existing shareholders first refusal on any available stake.

According to the BBC, the new share transfer may strengthen Kretinsky’s position in the wider ownership talks. The report said the transaction could allow him to buy the Gold family’s 25.1% stake without his own holding rising above 50%, which would otherwise trigger a requirement to make an offer for the rest of the club. West Ham’s other major shareholder, David Sullivan, could also in theory bid for the Gold shares, although the BBC noted uncertainty over whether that would be permitted given allegations raised in a BBC Panorama investigation, which Sullivan denies.

Kretinsky bought 27% of West Ham in 2021. The BBC said he had not been able to complete a separate deal with Vanessa Gold that was announced in June. He has publicly opposed the Staveley transaction and is now said to be considering his options. The process around the Gold family’s sale is expected to take about two months because it involves two rounds of pre-emption.

The development matters because it could reshape control of a club whose ownership has been under scrutiny and may influence which investors ultimately gain a larger stake.