Ciaran Morrison

Fri 3 April 2026 11:30, UK

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Seb Coe should have resolved a dispute with West Ham United behind the scenes and not in public.

That is the view of Keith Wyness, as the former Everton chief executive speaks exclusively to Football Insider, on West Ham’s desire not to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships.

The event, which would take place in August or September, would clash with West Ham’s league fixtures in the football season.

West Ham’s current stance may mean London can not host the event, which is held over three weeks, despite backing from the Mayor of London and the Government.

A solution for the London Stadium to host the event could aid West Ham financially, with the club having recorded a loss of £104.2million in their latest accounts.

West Ham in ‘strong position’ in World Athletics dispute

Everton’s former chief Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes West Ham have a “very strong claim” not to host the World Athletic Championships.

Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness thinks that Coe and Keely Hodgkinson could have been “more friendly” to West Ham.

He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “They’re asking for three weeks during September, which is prime football season.

“There’ll be no doubt West Ham have got a very strong claim on this, and it’ll be in the contract. Where World Athletics have gone wrong on this, and Seb Coe in particular has played a very bad hand, is that this could have been done behind the scenes.

“West Ham right now, they need the cash. And so there could have been a settlement made behind the scenes or some sweeteners put in place for West Ham to not have made this battle become public. West Ham will have a pretty cast iron-contract, I’m pretty sure on this.

“Three weeks in September is the prime Premier League season, and they will not be able to move. They could go to the Premier League and ask for two away games in a row.

“They could probably shuffle the fixtures just about to accommodate, and I think the government could lean on the Premier League to a degree as well to try and get that assistance in fixture scheduling.

“West Ham know they’ve got a strong hand, and certainly World Athletics and Seb Coe have played it terribly. This could have been done behind the scenes to work out a solution.

“We know there’s bad blood between West Ham and the London Legacy Company because of such a great deal that West Ham negotiated.

“But they’re in a strong position. So why would they give up three weeks in September? And the whole Keely Hodgkinson PR battle. They played it all wrong, and they could have been much more friendly to West Ham.”

West Ham set to suffer further financial blow

West Ham’s financial situation, and need for extra revenue, could get desperate next season if the club are relegated from the Premier League.

Sports business expert Lukasz Baczek told Football Insider that the value of West Ham’s shirt sponsor could drop by £7m in the Championship.

The Hammers may only be able to command up to £4m a year on any deal in the second tier, due to less exposure.

Amazing Thailand are believed to be in talks with West Ham over becoming their new shirt sponsor, with Premier League rules prohibiting gambling companies from next season.