Amanda Staveley has broken her silence after missing out on a major investment in West Ham United.
The former Newcastle United director had been leading a consortium which agreed terms to purchase the Gold family’s stake in the Hammers.
That agreement ultimately failed to go through after West Ham’s existing shareholders exercised their pre-emption rights.
Daniel Křetínský subsequently agreed a deal which will make him the club’s single largest shareholder with a 46 per cent stake.
However, Staveley’s interest in West Ham may not be completely finished.
Amanda Staveley sends new West Ham message
A new talkSPORT report says Staveley has now spoken about the failed attempt to invest in the club.
Staveley is understood to be disappointed that the proposed transaction did not go through.
However, the report also indicates that she retains significant respect for West Ham and remains interested in how the club develops from here.
That leaves an intriguing question over whether another opportunity could emerge in the future.
Staveley’s consortium had originally agreed to purchase Vanessa Gold’s 25.1 per cent stake before West Ham’s existing shareholders intervened.
Read West Ham previously reported how Staveley attended the victory over Wolves while the ownership battle remained unresolved.
The picture changed dramatically soon afterwards.
Křetínský set to become West Ham’s largest shareholder
West Ham confirmed last week that Křetínský had agreed transactions which would make him the club’s single largest shareholder.
His stake is set to increase to 46 per cent, although the club said at the time that the transactions had not yet been completed.
Read West Ham explained the remaining step in Křetínský’s ownership agreement following the announcement.
The Czech billionaire’s move effectively ended Staveley’s immediate route to acquiring the Gold family’s shares.
Reuters also reported that Křetínský’s increased position would give West Ham greater clarity at ownership level following months of uncertainty. Reuters ownership report
Staveley’s latest comments suggest she has not simply lost interest in the Hammers, though.
That makes her future worth watching even as Křetínský prepares to become the most significant shareholder at London Stadium.
Supporters can follow the latest shareholding structure and major developments through our West Ham ownership guide.
Amanda Staveley interest in West Ham remains alive
Staveley’s failed attempt to acquire the Gold family’s shares has not completely ended her interest in West Ham.
A fresh report from The i Paper says PCP Capital Partners continues to monitor West Ham as one of at least two potential football investments, despite the consortium being blocked from completing its original deal.
That transaction would have seen Staveley and her partners pay around £150million for the Gold family’s holding before West Ham’s existing shareholders exercised their pre-emption rights.
Daniel Křetínský subsequently agreed a deal to become West Ham’s largest shareholder with a 46 per cent stake, closing Staveley’s immediate route into the club.
However, the latest report suggests PCP still believes another opportunity could eventually emerge if existing investors become willing to sell.
That would require significantly more money than Staveley’s original minority investment.
The i Paper reports that a future transaction involving combinations of Křetínský, David Sullivan or Tripp Smith’s holdings could potentially provide a route towards acquiring more than 50 per cent of West Ham.
There is no suggestion that such a deal is currently being negotiated.
For now, West Ham’s new ownership structure remains centred around Křetínský’s increased position, but Staveley’s continued interest means the longer-term ownership story may not be completely finished.
