West Ham fans marched last February 2020 in protest against David Gold and David Sullivan, the club's owners, and Karren Brady, a board member.
West Ham United appears to be on the rise.
They are currently seventh in the Premier League and will be hosting Manchester City in the 16th round of the EFL Cup.
They host Rapid Vienna on Thursday in their first European home match in a competition since 2006. This is their first European home match in a competition since 2006.
In June, David Moyes, manager, signed a three year contract. Even the much-maligned London Stadium has a West Ham feel. The stands are now squared off, and the distinctive carpet has changed from green to claret. There is also a statue outside that pays homage to the 1965 European Cup Winners’ Cup.
Even if all is well in the garden, why did Rio and Anton Ferdinand join Tony Cottee (another former West Ham player) in supporting a group that wanted to take over the club? Why is there a demonstration by supporters who want to rid themselves of David Sullivan, David Gold, and Karren Brady, just before Sunday's match against Brentford?
The bitter divide
In protest of the club's owners, thousands marched from Plaistow Station to Pudding Mill Station on the 29th of February 2020, just before the coronavirus had an impact and English football was shut down.
Their team was in the middle of a relegation battle and they felt it was the right time to share their thoughts about the perceived broken promises surrounding the controversial 2016 move from Upton Park in London Stadium. It was a toxic atmosphere, and the feeling of unease was intense.
Some suggested, but only partially in jest that Moyes was able to lead his side to safety, and then last season into sixth place and a coveted European spot, because no fans were there, ready to turn against Sullivan, Gold, and Brady whenever anything went wrong.
Despite the improvement in fortunes, however, the sentiment is not changing.
Their team might have a chance to place in the top 4 when they host Brentford, newly promoted Brentford. However, Hammers United, the umbrella group, feels that it is the perfect time to reiterate their desire to get rid of Brady, Gold, and Sullivan.
A protest was held near London Stadium on Sunday at 12:00 BST
Hammers United states that West Ham supporters waited patiently after our February 2020 demonstration for the chance to unite and send a clear signal to their owners.
"We are doing so well on the pitch, building a strong team and we are in Europe. Protest now to make your point and get noticed by the public. This is the best time to protest.
Some fans don't like the idea of any protest that could destabilise Moyes or his players. Others feel that Hammers United members have undermined their position in meeting with club executives to try and resolve their grievances through negotiation.
Paul Colborne is the co-founder and chairman of Hammers United, and is currently banned from West Ham matches due to a pitch invasion protest he participated in before a match against Burnley.
He says that the actions of the current owners have broken trust in us.
"A comprehensive survey of our supporters and members was conducted mid-season 2020-21 to confirm how they view changing ownership as a priority for rebuilding the fan experience at our club.
David Gold (left), and David Sullivan, majority shareholder, took control of West Ham's in 2010
Uncertainty about ownership
Sullivan and Gold admit that they are not perfect under their stewardship.
They feel that they are not being given enough credit for the investments they made in the first-team squad.
West Ham has spent over 300 million on new players since 2018, including club records fees for Felipe Anderson (club record) and Sebastien Haller (club record), who were then sold at a significant loss after Manuel Pellegrini's departure. Declan Rice, West Ham's star midfielder, was also not sold.
They also refused to engage in meaningful discussions with PAI Capital, who wants to purchase the club as part a larger strategy to bring the entire Olympic Park site under one umbrella.
PAI Capital, an Azerbaijani-born, British-educated entrepreneur, is promising 150 million investment for its first team. It also plans to attract the Ferdinand brothers as well as Cottee.
PAI has stated that it is "unable to move forward at this stage", after announcing that it had rejected a second external-link bid and accepted that Sullivan and Gold were not interested in advancing a deal. Without a deal, the entire Park plan will be unaffected.
The group stated that PAI Capital's interest is still there and that, should anything change, they will be willing and able to continue.
A delicate balance
This creates an uneasy environment. One hand, there are some positive developments on the pitch. The relationship between West Ham Football Club and its landlords is improving, although it could have been worse at one point.
West Ham are a club that has the potential to take their game to new heights, thanks to their large fan base, excellent stadium location, and an improving team.
However, it also feels delicate. The club has been honoring their heroes since 1965 this week. This European success was part a four-year-long historic run that saw them win two trophies and reach three semi-finals.
However, the team has had limited success over the last 30 years. Three relegations are to be added to the two League Cup semi-final losses and the FA Cup final loss against Liverpool.
It's no surprise that many Hammers yearn for more. There are no guarantees that they will get it, no matter how hard they try.
