West Ham go top of Championship after thrilling win at Bolton
West Ham moved top of the EFL Championship following a win at Bolton, marking three successive league victories amid major boardroom changes.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- West Ham beat Bolton to climb to the top of the Championship table
- The club secured three consecutive league wins for the first time since December 2023
- Daniel Kretinsky is set to become the largest shareholder with 46%
- West Ham signed nine players in the summer, including record EFL signing Arne Engels
It was a memorable night for West Ham United and their 4,500 traveling supporters at the Toughsheet Community Stadium, as captain and talisman Jarrod Bowen opened the scoring early and secured a late victory in a five-goal thriller against Bolton.
The result lifted West Ham to the summit of the EFL Championship. It marked their third successive league win, a feat not achieved since December 2023, the run that preceded the decline and eventual relegation from the Premier League last May. While celebrating the victory, the visiting supporters continually chanted against former chairman David Sullivan.
Although David Sullivan resigned as chairman in June, he remains involved and is expected to hold a 40% stake following an agreement announced on September 3. However, his influence has noticeably diminished amid a massive summer overhaul led by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky, who has taken over as chairman, alongside chief executive Karim Virani and director of football Nils Koppen, who have restructured recruitment.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
During a busy transfer window, West Ham sold 12 players—including Crysencio Summerville and Mateus Fernandes—while bringing in nine new faces. The club broke an EFL record by paying £22m to Celtic for Belgium international Arne Engels, alongside securing 21-year-old Norwegian talent Edvin Austbo from Viking for an initial £10m.
The boardroom reshuffle and strategic changes at West Ham highlight a concerted effort to modernize the club's operations and restore fan trust following their relegation. With new leadership under Daniel Kretinsky and a more transparent recruitment framework, the club is attempting to leave the turbulence of previous seasons behind.
Despite the positive momentum on the pitch, questions persist regarding the future intentions of former Newcastle director Amanda Staveley and her involvement in the club's shareholder structure, leaving supporters eager to see how the ownership landscape evolves.
Source: BBC Sport
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