Ex-Chelsea director Christian Purslow delivers verdict on West Ham finances, makes bold prediction on future

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West Ham are a club in crisis on and off the pitch as David Moyes’ side have gone off the rails of late.

Losing three games on the bounce and conceding 11 goals in the process has seen the Hammers dragged into the thick of the relegation battle.

The 3-0 home defeat to Burnley last time out saw fan unrest come to a head with supporters invading the pitch to protest against the way the club has been run by co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold and vice-chairman Karren Brady.

Homegrown Hammer and captain Mark Noble was seen rugby tackling one of the fans while another took the corner flag and planted it in the centre circle in scenes reminiscent of the Bonds scheme protests back in 1992.

The club don’t play again for three weeks when they take on Southampton at the London Stadium in an an absolute must win if they are to have any realistic hope of surviving.

West Ham face Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Leicester City and Everton in six of their last seven games.

If they do manage to stay up the club will find itself at a serious crossroads in the summer.

Fans want big changes or preferably a change of ownership after broken promises over transfers, ambition and the move to the former Olympic Stadium.

And business guru Christian Purslow, the former managing director of Liverpool and Chelsea, has made a prediction that will be music to supporters’ ears when appearing as a guest on Sky Sports’ The Debate.

“The club made – they’ve just announced their results – £43 million of profit in their first year, so that’s last season, that’s £43 million of profit, after tax, after interest,” Purslow told The Debate, after reading through the club’s accounts.

“Most normal companies, and let me tell you because this (business) is my world, a company making £40m of profit – if that’s sustainable which means in football if you say you’re going to be in the Premier League indefinitely that’s a £3-400m company, so as a strictly business matter they’ve made a fortune.

“They’re not young men, they may sell the business.

“They could spend significantly more, if they wanted to, on wages given that profit.

“I think if they stay up then there’s got to be a very good chance that the owners look to sell the club.”