West Ham co-owner David Gold dies aged 86 after short illness

West Ham co-owner David Gold has died following a brief sickness (NurPhoto by way of Getty)

West Ham co-owner David Gold has died aged 86 following a brief sickness.

Gold was a lifelong West Ham supporter and was a key a part of the membership’s takeover in 2010 alongside his co-chairman David Sullivan.

He additionally spent 12 years as Birmingham Metropolis’s chairman earlier than he offered his shares in 2009.

Gold additionally owned the mother or father firm of British high-street retailer Ann Summers.

A press release from West Ham learn: ‘It's with deep disappointment that West Ham United FC affirm that our beloved Joint-Chairman David Gold handed away on Wednesday morning following a brief sickness.

‘David Gold, 86, died peacefully along with his devoted daughters, Jacqueline and Vanessa, and his fiancée Lesley, by his aspect.

‘A lifelong and ardent West Ham United fan, David Gold was born in Stepney in September 1936 and grew up at 442 Inexperienced Avenue, immediately reverse the Boleyn Floor. As a promising younger schoolboy participant, he represented the Membership’s boys’ group between the ages of 13 and 16 and later appeared within the youth group.

‘After forging a profession as a vastly profitable businessman, his life got here full circle in January 2010 when he turned Joint-Chairman of West Ham United following the profitable takeover that helped to regular the ship and defend the Membership’s future throughout a interval of nice monetary uncertainty.’

David Sullivan (L) and David Gold took management of West Ham in 2010 (AFP by way of Getty)

West Ham’s joint-chairman David Sullivan stated: ‘On behalf of everybody on the soccer membership, it's with profound sorrow and a heavy coronary heart that we mourn the passing of our colleague and good friend, David Gold.

‘Of all our joint ventures, none gave us extra pleasure and happiness than the day we took possession of West Ham United, our Membership, in January 2010. David had a long-standing reference to the Hammers, having grown up reverse the Boleyn Floor in Inexperienced Avenue, and represented the Membership at junior stage. He all the time wished what was finest for West Ham United, and his passing is a superb loss for all of us.’

David Gold and David Sullivan moved West Ham to the Olympic Stadium in 2016 (AMA/Getty)

West Ham supervisor David Moyes stated: ‘I'm extraordinarily unhappy to listen to this information and, on behalf of all the gamers and my employees on the coaching floor, I want to prolong our deepest sympathies to David Gold’s household at this very tough time.

‘Mr Gold was a daily customer to Rush Inexperienced and all the time a supply of nice assist and encouragement to myself and the gamers.

‘It was clear that he had a real and honest love for the Membership and was a real supporter at coronary heart.

‘He took an incredible curiosity within the folks working behind-the-scenes and was all the time eager to assist in any means he might. He might be enormously missed.’

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