(Credit: Manh Tung, Breaking Media)

Evan Shaw

Sat 30 May 2026 8:45, UK

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West Ham United director and major shareholder Daniel Kretinsky is “unhappy” with owner David Sullivan after the club’s relegation from the Premier League.

That is according to former Everton and Aston Villa chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes that the Czech investor is not content with the way that his funds have been handled this season.

The Hammers are facing a growing level of uncertainty on all levels after slipping back into the Championship, and there are continued questions regarding whether the club could potentially be sold this summer.

Sullivan has cut an unpopular figure among the supporters for several years now, and there is now also discontent among some of the other major figures behind the scenes at the London Stadium.

West Ham’s relegation will bring significant losses on both the footballing and business side of the club, and the hierarchy must find a way of navigating through that this summer.

Keith Wyness: One of Daniel Kretinsky or David Sullivan could leave

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 that West Ham have significant issues to resolve at boardroom level as well as on the pitch ahead of next term.

He has questioned the current state of the relationship between Kretinsky and Sullivan, and suggested that one of the pair could potentially step away from the club.

Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness suggested that “clear messaging” is needed from the hierarchy amid their ongoing dispute, while the London Stadium continues to hang over them like a “big black cloud.”

“They’re facing a big drop in revenue, a big drop in wages, and it could be as many as 10 players that have to go. It’s got to be clear messaging at the top,” Wyness said.

“Kretinsky won’t be happy with the way his investment has been handled by Sullivan on the football side this year. They’re going to have to resolve their differences; maybe one of them may have to go.

“If they both decide they can’t resolve it, then maybe they have to sell. They’re going to be looking at having to put in about another £100million themselves each season.

Henry Winter discusses the possibility of a Daniel Křetínský takeover at West Ham United backed by prominent supporters. pic.twitter.com/e9uGdyldnv

— Central (@WestHam_Central) May 29, 2026

“There are many big question marks at West Ham, and the stadium is hanging like a big black cloud over them in terms of the way the fans are reacting to it.”

Everton working to begin West Ham player exodus

Football Insider revealed on Thursday that Everton are already working on a deal for El Hadji Malick Diouf, as they could spark the start of a potential exodus from West Ham this summer.

The Toffees are big admirers of the 21-year-old, and are trying to put together a package that could potentially meet the East Londoners’ “big asking price” for the left-back.

Diouf is one of several Hammers stars that have been heavily linked with a move away this summer, with the likes of Jarrod Bowen, Mateus Fernandes and Crysencio Summerville all attracting significant interest from elsewhere.

Nuno Espirito Santo is facing the prospect of a complete rebuild of the playing squad ahead of the new season, and he may yet have to conduct that without almost all of his key stars.