Why West Ham fans should embrace Gold and Sullivan

By Darren Lewis

Published 09:47 19/01/10

• 

In the short term the West Ham fans might not be happy. But in the long term they may come to understand that it is the best thing for the club.

Sullivan and Gold complete West Ham takeover  

Given the way in which Portsmouth and Notts County have been razed to the ground by men who purported to be football people, it is better the devil you know.

Air Asia boss Tony Fernandes (who sounds like an extra from Scarface) may have had a few bob but – as we can see with QPR – that doesn’t mean he would be willing to pump it into the football club.

And as for the Intermarket Group? Well, they came from nowhere but simply appeared not to have the money to finance the deal.

Birmingham were in the third tier of English football when David Gold and David Sullivan took over.

They bought the club for £1 and sold it for £82million. They stuck by their managers, keeping faith with Alex McLeish when he was relegated only for the Scot to take them back up.

And they are being rewarded with the best unbeaten run in their history. Make no mistake either: Yes, new City owner Carson Yeung may have a big fat wedge.

But the run which could well take Birmingham into Europe is being played out with a team bought by…Gold and Sullivan.

The word is their first move will be to snap up strikers Benjani from Manchester City and Eidur Gudjohnsen from Monaco.

That would surely have to be an improvement on the lightweight, powder-puff attack they currently have.

Their next move must surely be to get rid of Director of Football Gianluca Nani, whose signings have been appalling.

The striker Savio is only a short-head behind Alberto Aquilani at Liverpool in the race for the worst signing of the last couple of years.

Luis Jimenez was a shocker and, with the likes of Parma and Chievo interested, West Ham need to get rid.

And although striker Alessandro Diamanti has actually found the net this season he, like Savio, looks too lightweight to replace the injured Carlton Cole.

But Gold and Sullivan should sort that. And, more importantly, the future of West Ham looks a bit more secure.

It will be a massive shame if they go back on their word and axe Gianfranco Zola for Mark Hughes, although they have said they will stick with the Italian for now.

Zola has done a wonderful job under the circumstances, staying true to the West Ham traditions of developing young talent.

James Tomkins, Jack Collison, Junior Stanislas and Zavon Hines have all come on a bundle under the Italian and I cannot see that Hughes will come in and do a better job.

Hopefully Gold and Sullivan will realize that the best way to keep fans on side and get off on the right foot is to appreciate that.

Fancy winning £3,000 for FREE this month? Play Mirror Football Streak for your chance to win cash prizes! Start predicting now!