Everything we know as ex-West Ham chair faces ‘serious historic allegations’

David Sullivan has stepped down as joint chairman of West Ham United with immediate effect, threatening legal action against the media in light of “serious historic allegations” set to be revealed on Monday.

The 77-year-old is leaving his role of 16 years to fight what he called “false allegations” about his private life, following a joint investigation by the BBC and The Times into Sullivan’s “behaviour”.

Having made his fortune in the pornography industry and then newspapers through the Daily Sport and Sunday Sport titles, Sullivan completed a takeover of West Ham in 2010 with his business partner David Gold, who died in 2023, after the pair sold their shares in Birmingham City.

Sullivan and his fellow executives’ relationship with West Ham fans became increasingly fractious over the course of their tenure at the east London club. The decision to relocate from Upton Park to the former Olympic Stadium in 2016 a hugely unpopular one with many supporters.

That move was led by Karren Brady, who followed Sullivan and Gold from Birmingham and stepped down from her role as West Ham’s vice-chair in April amid a challenging season which ultimately ended in the club’s relegation from the Premier League.

‘Serious allegations’ emerge, with Panorama documentary imminent

The allegations against Sullivan relate to the former chairman’s “behaviour,” according to the BBC.

In a statement shared with The i Paper on Saturday, the broadcaster said: “BBC Panorama and The Times newspaper have been working together on a joint investigation into the behaviour of David Sullivan, who has announced he is stepping down as joint chair and director of West Ham United FC.

“Over decades, he’s made millions from pornography, newspapers, and football. The investigation is due to be broadcast and published on Monday.”

There is a 29-minute BBC Panorama episode, initially titled only as an “investigative documentary”, which is set to air on BBC One at 8pm on Monday, 8 June.

The BBC would not comment further regarding the nature of the allegations made against Sullivan, but statements from both Sullivan and West Ham suggested they were related to the Welsh businessman’s “personal life” rather than his position within the club.

“It is understood none of the allegations relate to West Ham United or any of its operations,” the club’s statement said, announcing that Sullivan had resigned “having been made aware of the impending publication of serious historic allegations.”

“None of these allegations relate to my more than 30 years in football,” Sullivan said in his own statement, announcing that his “incredibly painful decision” to step down was made “out of love, respect, and responsibility toward a football club and a fan base that deserve absolute unity and focus moving forward”.

He added: “At what is already a challenging and important time for the club, I refuse to allow personal matters concerning me to become an unnecessary distraction or a source of instability.”

West Ham said they would give “an update on the future structure of the board of directors in due course, but will make no further comment at this time”.

Czech businessman Daniel Křetínský bought a 27 per cent stake in the club in 2021 and is reportedly set to increase his stake, while interim chief executive officer Karim Virani – reporting into the current board of directors – will continue to be responsible for leading the club’s day-to-day operations.

Sullivan ‘will be suing the BBC’

In his resignation statement, Sullivan vowed to sue the BBC and “any other media outlet that repeats libelous [sic] allegations”.

The statement began: “I have recently become aware that factually incorrect and entirely false, decades-old allegations concerning my personal life are due to be broadcast and published.”

Claiming that the “false allegations” levelled against him had been “sensationalised by the media”, Sullivan continued: “I believe that the entire process has been fundamentally unfair and completely lacking in any due impartiality.

“I will be suing the BBC for libel, along with any other media outlet that repeats any libelous allegations.”

He added: “After a lifetime spent building businesses in the adult industry in which I have met thousands of women, it is sadly inevitable that a small number of improper conduct claims are being made against me. I categorically deny these claims.

“I am a private man, and those who personally and professionally know the real David Sullivan, not the caricature invented by the tabloids, know exactly who I am and what I stand for. I am absolutely not the person the media has decided to paint me as.

“I have not been provided with any proper explanation as to how these individuals or their claims were independently verified or assessed for credibility prior to publication.”

Sullivan concluded by saying he was “stepping down to apply my full energy and attention on fighting these false allegations” and declined to make further comment at this stage.