Kieran Maguire issues ‘out of touch’ claim amid West Ham political donation reveal
West Ham owners are “not necessarily out of touch” with their “traditional working-class” fanbase despite donating to the Conservative party.
That is the opinion of finance expert Kieran Maguire, who spoke exclusively to Football Insider about how West Ham fans will react to their club’s political donations.
As reported by The Guardian, the Hammers used club money to make a £9,000 donation to the Conservative party last year.
Documents published by the Electoral Commission revealed the donation was accepted by the Conservatives on 3 October, less than a month before Liz Truss was forced to resign.
It is not the first time the London club have pledged money to the political party, with a £12,500 donation made in 2016.
Maguire believes the club’s board is entitled to give their opinion within the football industry and that they will share a relationship with the government after negotiating a deal for the London Stadium.
“West Ham owners will feel that they’re entitled to give political donations to whoever they choose,” Maguire told Football Insider.
“They will have had a good relationship with politicians historically given the deal they negotiated with regard to the stadium.
“They have built up relationships and this is one way of expressing that.
“There is nothing untoward in terms of what they have done, football is an industry just like any other where people are entitled to give opinions.
“While West Ham have a traditional working-class fan base, the demographics of voting patterns are not along the same class lines as they used to.
“So therefore West Ham will not feel that it is not necessarily out of touch with their fanbase.“
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