West Ham supporters have staged protests against the club’s board ahead of their game against Crystal Palace.
Supporters’ groups Hammers United and Crossed Hammers organised marches on Saturday afternoon, which ended with fans descending on the directors’ entrance at the London Stadium.
Hammers United marched from the Carpenter’s Arms to the directors’ entrance; meanwhile, Crossed Hammers led a splinter protest from Stratford station.
An extra police presence was in place as supporters, armed with banners reading “Sold our soul - 15 years of destroying West Ham United,” cried “we want our club back” and “it’s all lies, lies, lies” as the team bus arrived at the stadium.
The protests come after West Ham’s Fan Advisory Board issued a vote of no confidence in the club’s board two weeks ago, citing the club’s failure to adequately build on their Conference League victory in 2023 as well as the matchday experience at the London Stadium.
The FAB, who have shown their support for the protests, have said they expect wholesale changes and no further board interference, with priority given to bringing people to the club who have football and commercial expertise.
West Ham released a statement on Wednesday in response to the vote of no confidence, but Hammers United spokesperson Colborne says the response is “absolute, condescending rubbish and inaccuracies.”
“It's horrible. I could just burst into tears. It's not West Ham,” Colborne told Standard Sport.
Colborne told Standard Sport on Friday that the aim of the protest was for chairman David Sullivan and vice-chair Karren Brady to stand down, and he reiterated that point ahead of the march, which took a route along Marshgate Lane from Pudding Mill Lane station up to the directors’ entrance.
“I don't hope (they stand down). I'm extremely confident. I really am. We will get Sullivan and Brady out. Sooner rather than later,” Colborne said.
“We're not asking you (Sullivan) to sell up. We're asking you to stand down from the executive positions and get proper executives in to run the club.”
Colborne says he wants a similar boardroom setup to the one adopted at Tottenham, who brought in Vinai Venkatesham as CEO in April, with Daniel Levy stepping down as executive chairman after 24 years at the club last week.
“The fans have had enough. We've got to drive them out.”
Tensions have been rising at West Ham after a disastrous start to the season, which has seen Graham Potter’s side win just one of their opening four league games.
Colborne, however, was keen to state that these are longstanding grievances and not merely a result of the team’s poor performances.
“The last big protest was before West Ham's only win in 11 matches. What will make this process better is if we can win and still do the protest. That shows it,” Colborne, who has given up his season ticket at the London Stadium, continued.
This protest is the first in “a sustained season-long campaign and a series of protests which must be vigorous, but within the law,” with Colborne calling for a total boycott ahead of West Ham’s game at home against Brentford, as well as a mass march against Burnley.
Colborne adds that black balloons and flags will also become a presence at away games as protests ramp up across the season.
West Ham take on Crystal Palace at the London Stadium, looking for their first home win of the season.
