Sullivan and Gold in Hammers driving seat as banks prepare to make takeover decision

The Hammers potential new owners will be determined by worried banks owed millions by the club.

There are three bids in for the Hammers from David Sullivan, the Intermarket Group and Malaysian tycoon Tony Fernandes.

But because the club owe around £45million to several different banks, it is these creditors who are now assessing the takeover bids.

The banks have assembled a ’credit committee’ to analyse prospective buyers.

And West Ham will be sold to whoever is most likely to give the banks their money back and can guarantee funds.

That has left Sullivan and his partners the Gold brothers in the driving seat marginally ahead of Fernandes.

Both parties have offered to buy 50 per cent of West Ham’s shareholding from the club’s Icelandic owners with options to buy the rest at a later date.

Former Birmingham chief Sullivan and David and Ralph Gold have already shown proof of funds to back up their offer.

The Essex-based businessmen now believe they are in a two-way fight with Fernandes for control of the club as Intermarket Group’s funds are largely based on borrowed money.

Neither are willing to buy Straumur’s entire stake given West Ham’s crippling total debts of almost £100million.

But a sale of the club is now expected to go ahead next week after West Ham visit Aston Villa on Sunday.

A source said: “I think Sullivan and the Golds are quite relieved their first game isn’t Aston Villa away given their Birmingham connections.”