Much-maligned West Ham United vice-chairman Karren Brady has taken to Twitter to deny claims the club is struggling to fill the London Stadium.
A woeful start to life at their new Olympic Stadium home had morale on the pitch and in the stands at a new low.
Fighting amongst fans and safety fears at the ground as well as a perceived lack of the famous intimidating Hammers atmosphere from Upton Park has seen the stadium switch cited by many as a reason for the club’s contrast in fortunes compared to their fantastic campaign last term.
Seven points in as many days has lifted spirits somewhat and pushed Slaven Bilic’s side up to the relative comfort of 13th place in the Premier League table.
Many supporters still aren’t happy, though, given the poor level of performance in back-to-back 1-0 home wins over Burnley and Hull City and the general matchday experience at the 57,000-seater venue.
The stadium issues have driven a wedge between factions of supporters and the club’s owners.
And a disastrous summer of cheap and inadequate transfer business has not helped either.
West Ham United vice chairman Karren Brady
Vice-chairman Karren Brady, who was allegedly spat at by her own fans during this season’s 4-2 home defeat to Watford, has become something of a hate figure to a section of disgruntled fans.
Many of the club’s 52,000 season ticket holders – second only to Manchester United in England – have been failing to attend games leaving empty seats, despite a ticket exchange system being in place.
And plenty have also been leaving games early in their droves to avoid long delays getting away from the ground.
The perception in some quarters as a result is that the club has been struggling to fill the stadium.
West Ham United players look dejected at full-time in front of a half-empty stadium
But Brady has taken to Twitter to deny such claims and reiterated plans to go even bigger.
“Ground is totally sold out – highest capacity sold in Premier League – we can and will fill 66k like we have filled 57k!” Brady posted on Twitter.
“We want to move to 60k capacity this season and 66k next to get in next generation of kids.”
It’s one thing getting the next generation of kids interested, it is another keeping them interested and that will be an uphill task if the Hammers continue to play the way they have been this season.
The board’s cheap transfer business in the summer has been completely exposed at a time they should have been making three or four top quality signings as a statement of intent to the league and fans after their best ever Premier League points tally last term.
Instead Bilic’s squad has been diluted with a glut of players woefully short of the required quality and not one able to step up and take the pressure of last season’s heroes Dimitri Payet, Manuel Lanzini and Winston Reid.
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