West Ham begin Championship season amid boardroom power struggle and Sullivan scandal

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The power battle over Vanessa Gold’s shares and the David Sullivan Panorama allegations are overshadowing the start of the season in the Championship

There have been 10 summers of West Ham’s London Stadium tenancy and a number of winters of discontent. As the Hammers kick off their new season on Saturday, their Carabao Cup first-round fixture with Portsmouth serves as a stark reminder of reduced circumstances, further confirmation of last season’s relegation from the Premier League. The summer has been as bleak as any of those winters, a collision of factors deepening the gloom of relegation.

Certain clubs, including West Ham back in 2011-12 when promotion was achieved at first time of asking under Sam Allardyce, have used the Championship to take a beat, to refresh and replenish. Can this be the case at West Ham 2026? The Hammers are actually short-odds favourites for promotion but behind the scenes it has been a summer of turbulence, particularly in the boardroom, where a power struggle is being fought.

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