David Gold, along with David Sullivan and Karren Brady, has been a very unpopular figure at West Ham United.
It’s safe to say the relationship between the fans and board has been fractious – supporters are currently planning a televised black balloon protest against them while one fan was recently banned for wearing a ‘GSB OUT’ shirt when they were a flag bearer.
This comes with the club currently sitting in the relegation zone, ahead of a tough seven-game run of fixtures where they face many of the Premier League’s top sides.
It’s currently looking very bleak for them, but fans won’t have been looking to their owners for words of comfort, due to the lack of trust they have in them.
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However, they will also have been hoping to avoid comments that would anger them further, though Gold has produced exactly that.
The first part that has enraged fans is the fact that he’s been quoted by Sky Sports as saying: “I know exactly what Ed’s experienced. I’ve experienced it four or five times myself”.
This comes after Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward had flares thrown over his property’s front fence by hooded fans.
This led to West Ham supporters aiming criticism at Gold, as well as the rest of the hierarchy.
In addition, he was quoted by The Mirror as saying: “I’ve not received a penny in salary or expenses from West Ham in 10 years. I know of owners or chief executives that are earning £3million a year… and more.”
As Sam Inkersole points out, he has made £18.6m back on interest from the loan that he provided the club, which many would argue makes up for the lack of a salary – and some.
Just to add salt to any West Ham wounds, he came out with an outrageous statement, comparing the club’s current fortunes to his childhood: “When I was a boy as a fan, all I remember is a football club in the old second division, all my young life it was in the old second division.
Is life under Gold and Sullivan really that bad? Maybe this quiz will change your minds, West Ham fans…
“At least it’s in the Premier League now. OK, we’ve got a few problems now, but overall we’re moving upwards.”
With all of the above in mind, it’s safe to say that fans were far from pleased with him.
Meanwhile, West Ham fans have been reacting to reports of a potential takeover.