Sullivan’s threat to West Ham players

NEW West Ham owner David Sullivan will tell the players anyone who does not want to stay can leave – but only if they help dig the club out of their current state and stay in the Barclays Premier League.

The life-long Hammers fan has, along with business partner and former Upton Park youth-team player David Gold, acquired 50% of the Premier League outfit in a deal which values the club at £105 million (€120.4m) and gives the duo operational and commercial control.

However, while living out a boyhood dream, Sullivan – who helped turn the fortunes of Birmingham around before selling the club last year – admitted their latest venture made no business sense whatsoever.