Kieran Maguire: Gold, Sullivan and Brady will be ‘relieved’ after West Ham update via Sky
West Ham chiefs David Gold, David Sullivan and Karren Brady can breathe a sigh of relief now that the investigation into their tax affairs has been discontinued.
That is according to finance guru and Football Insider columnist Kieran Maguire, speaking exclusively after the four-year criminal case was officially dropped last Thursday.
West Ham were raided by the tax authorities in 2017, with computers and documents seized en masse.
HMRC were quick to reiterate that the end of criminal proceedings was not the end of the line for the investigation.
In a statement given to Sky Sports, they wrote: “We do not comment on specific individuals or businesses, but in general terms it would be wrong to assume that the end of a criminal investigation means the end of our work”.
But Maguire claims that West Ham chiefs Gold, Sullivan and Brady will be unperturbed by HMRC’s rhetoric.
“I don’t think they will be worried,” he told Football Insider correspondent Adam Williams.
“They have got a strong defence. Under those circumstances, they will have people representing them from both a financial and a legal perspective, who will back up their case.
“I think ultimately West Ham will feel a sense of relief. HMRC aren’t going to come back and inspect more bits and pieces.
“They feel that they have done nothing wrong. They can now concentrate on trying to get into Europe.”
Newcastle United were also under investigation by HMRC.
But the case against them, conducted by a task force codenamed Operation Loom, has been scrapped too.
In other news, Matheus Pereira tipped for West Brom exit as West Ham reportedly interested.