David Sullivan comments give indication of West Ham’s transfer plans this summer, fans react

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West Ham United fans are furious with the club’s owners.

West Ham look likely to scrape themselves to Premier League safety this season but fans know it is only papering over the cracks.

Supporters have had enough of the way the club is being run by co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold and vice-chairman Karren Brady.

Fan anger spilled over onto the pitch during the 3-0 defeat to Burnley last month to leave the Hammers board in no doubt over the strength of feeling for the terraces.

Supporters have a long list of major issues they are unhappy with, chiefly broken pledges over transfer spending and ambition as well as the move to the London Stadium and what greeted them there compared to what they were promised.

Sullivan has already committed to ripping up and restructuring the club’s recruitment process from which he will take a step back this summer.

Sullivan and Gold have left many fans – 52,000 of whom signed up to their vision by purchasing season tickets for their new home for the first two seasons, second only to Manchester United – reeling with their lack of ambition and terrible recruitment.

With the season ticket renewal deadline looming on the horizon many felt it was only a matter of time until Sullivan started making his usual pledges to spend big on players.

But speaking in the club’s official programme for the Stoke City game, not only has Sullivan defended the club’s net spend since moving stadiums he has also stopped short of the kind of making any grand promises ahead of the summer.

“While on the subject of recruitment, I want to dispel a myth about our net spending on new players in recent years,” Sullivan told the club’s official programme.

“There has been claims that our net spend has been next to nothing but that simply is not the case. Since June 2016, we have spent club record transfer fees on Andre Ayew and Marko Arnautovic in that time, and also significant sums on other individuals including Chicharito. We have recouped some of that money by selling more than 20 players, including Dimitri Payet.

“However, there has been some incorrect reporting on the amount of money we did or did not spend on some players, particularly those we brought in on Bosman transfers.

“While no fee has hanged hands for players aged 24 or older, significant agent and signing on fees and wages are needed to secure players who can literally choose their next move.

“Our net spend has been higher than has been suggested by so-called experts. The club will be looking to strengthen again this summer with a view to enjoying a better 2018/19.”