Staveley’s West Ham bid faces fresh obstacle
Amanda Staveley has suffered a blow in her attempt to buy into West Ham United after Daniel Kretinsky agreed to sell just over 2% of his stake in the club to Jakub Havrlant.
Within the last few days, Staveley, her husband Mehrdad Ghodoussi, and others agreed to buy a 25.1 per cent stake in the Hammers, who were relegated to the Championship last season. Staveley’s consortium agreed a £150million deal with the family of the late David Gold on Saturday.
But before Staveley can buy it, existing shareholders have first refusal at the price she agreed. However, Hammers co-chair Kretinsky sold just over 2% of his stake in the club to Czech businessman Havrlant on Tuesday, dealing a blow to Staveley and her consortium.
As a result of the deal, BBC Sport explain Kretinsky can now buy Gold's 25.1% stake without his own stake exceeding 50%, which would otherwise force him to make an offer for the remainder of the club.
“I am delighted Jakub Havrlant has joined the West Ham ownership group as a shareholder, subject to the pre-emption process,” Kretinsky said.
“He brings exceptional experience as an investor and digital innovator and I have no doubt his involvement will strengthen our club.”
In the background of the ownership battle, the club’s share structure now gives Kretinsky more flexibility, while Staveley’s proposed purchase still has to survive the existing shareholders’ right of first refusal. 
West Ham issued an ownership update after Amanda Staveley’s consortium agreed a 25.1% stake, confirming a pre-emption rights process around the deal.
Staveley outlines property plans in football
While speaking on an episode of Bloomberg’s Leaders with Francine Lacqua recorded before West Ham confirmed her agreement with Gold on Saturday, Staveley revealed she is planning a 'big property play' in English football.
She said: “Whatever club we take, there’ll be a big property play as well. We won’t just do a football-led. “I just want a challenge, and that’s what excites me. That’s where you get value uplift — when you take something from seedling and allow it to grow.”
Royal Mail owner Kretinsky bought 27% of West Ham in 2021 and for his plan he may need the help of the club’s third-largest shareholder, the American billionaire Albert Tripp Smith, who owns 8 per cent.
While The Times are reporting that there are set to be two rounds of bidding. In the first round, shareholders have 30 days to buy their entitlement, which is up to the same proportion as their present holding. And in the second round, any remaining Gold shares can be bought by shareholders who participated in the first round.
West Ham get their 2026/27 campaign underway on Saturday with a first round League Cup tie against Portsmouth at the London Stadium.
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