West Ham and Sunderland are amongst the teams that boast the worst owners in the Premier League according to HITC Sport readers, joined by Swansea, Hull and Crystal Palace supremos.
The results from HITC Sport’s poll looking at the five worst owners in the Premier League for 2016 are in. But did your club’s owner get voted as one of the worst? Here is the top five…
5. Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish
Crystal Palace endured a largely miserable 2016 in the Premier League. Palace won just six times in the top flight during the calendar year, and it appears that the fans are attributing at least some of the blame towards the owners. The appointment of Sam Allardyce will surely help get the supporters back on side.
4. West Ham United
After a promising first season under Slaven Bilic, West Ham have really struggled and have seemingly gone backwards. An incredibly poor summer transfer window as well as a difficult time adjusting to life at the London Stadium has forced some of the fans to question the club hierarchy on some of the decisions they have made.
3. Sunderland
Sunderland owner Ellis Short
Sunderland, once again, find themselves in relegation trouble heading into the new year. The owners’ reputation amongst the fans has been damaged further recently with chief executive Martin Bain admitting that they will be working with a limited budget during the January window (via Chronicle).
2. Swansea City
Swansea City’s rise through the leagues was a fairytale story that led to the club’s owners earning a lot of deserved praise. However, 2016 was a completely different story following a string of managerial decisions that have been somewhat difficult to understand. A repeat of 2016’s form will surely see the Swans relegated.
1. Hull City
Hull chairman Assem Allam
The difficult relationship between the Hull City owners and fans has rumbled on for several years now. Despite promotion to the top flight, the Hull’s apparent inability to back Steve Bruce in the summer market has seemingly left his successor Mike Phelan with an extremely difficult job trying to keep them up in the Premier League.
Hull supporters must be simultaneously longing for the day Allam sells the club on, while also in fear of what that decision – choosing who to sell to – will mean for the Tigers.
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