West Ham protest group Real West Ham Fans Action Group (RWHFAG) have cancelled a planned protest march scheduled for March 10th after holding talks with the club.
Sky Sports reported yesterday that club vice-chairman Karren Brady had written a nine-page open letter to West Ham fans where she committed to improving the issues that surround the London Stadium, including a study which will bring seating closer to the pitch.
Brady also promised to abandon plans to install retractable seating, among several other changes to be made at the London Stadium, also pledging to make more money available for investment in the playing squad.
Fans will also be consulted over a new badge to mark their 125th anniversary.
Having only been set up last November, the basis behind RWHFAG’s proposed march was to make the club aware of failed promises and what needed to be done to get fans on board.
According to the group, despite the club promising to ensure the spirit of West Ham moved from Upton Park to their new ground, the spirit was lost in the transition.
They claimed that the mantra “A stadium fit for football, an experience fit for fans” was not being achieved at the new ground, a ground that has been widely criticised for being soulless by football fans nationwide.
A lengthy Facebook post, shared on Twitter by the page, claims that the threat of a march had attracted the attention of the West Ham board, of which both Karren Brady and co-owner David Sullivan had attended meetings.
Twitter: STATEMENT https://t.co/FBe7XktVPf (@realwesthamfans)
The group now claim that given how the club have both acknowledged the issues and are prepared to work through them, the purpose of the march has been achieved, and so the march no longer needs to go ahead.
Twitter: I asked RWHFAG why they have called the protest march off and the response I got was: “We believe we have achieved… https://t.co/2j9cnzNJYM (@Sam_InkersoleTM)
They also go on to explain that funds in excess of £20,000 raised will now be used as a donation to the Isla Fund, which will be presented at half-time in an upcoming game.
