Gold’s Rolls-Royce was stationary outside the King Edward VII pub when two “monsters” flew out and threw a bottle at the windscreen.

Gold, joint owner of Villa rivals Birmingham City before he and David Sullivan left for West Ham, said: “People had been waving and smiling when these two thugs flew at us screaming abuse before unbelievably throwing the bottle which, but for the toughened glass, could have killed my driver Jerry had it penetrated.

“I hope and pray the incident is reported to the local constabulary and these two thugs are caught.

“I have been in this game for 17 years and don’t deserve this. It was the worst and most frightening thing I have experienced in my life.”

The incident added insult to injury after West Ham’s defeat.

Manager Avram Grant said: “I was not pleased with the performance or the result, even though the first Villa goal was clearly offside.

“We didn’t play well, we didn’t pass the ball well.

“We started the second half well but did not take our chances and when they scored again it was the end of the game.

“Villa played sharp and quick, like we planned to do.

“One thing you see in all my teams before is that they react well to a defeat like this. There’s a lot to learn from this game and I am sure the season will look much, much better.”

West Ham chief David Gold has defended his goalkeeper Robert Green for the mistake which led to England drawing 1-1 with the USA at the World Cup and to him subsequently being dropped by Fabio Capello.

The Italian also left out the 30-year-old for last night’s friendly with Hungary but Gold insisted: ‘Robert has come out of this with absolute dignity. If I’d been England manager, I would not have dropped him [after the USA game].’

Martin O’Neill quit Villa on Monday amid claims he was unhappy with the amount of money he had to spend on players.

The turmoil at the Midlands club may work in the Hammers’ favour, with reports suggesting James Milner will join Manchester City while Ashley Young has been linked with Tottenham.

And West Ham co-owner Gold wants his side, now managed by Avram Grant, to take full advantage.

He said: ‘We go there on Saturday in a new era for the club with a new manager and new players and we go, not just hoping for the best, but thinking we could do something here. A point at Villa would be huge for us as we have six very tough games to start with. You could almost say the most we could hope for is three or four points, if that, from our opening games.’

Gold, whose club are still ­£100million in debt, expects boss Avram Grant to make more signings before the transfer window shuts on August 31, although the Hammers did bring in Ajax’s Serbian striker Miralem Sulejmani on loan yesterday, subject to a work permit.

‘It’s a difficult marketplace at the moment and to shock anyone these days you have to spend £25m,’ added Gold. ‘With our debts, we are not in that league but we are adding to the strength of the squad. I would be disappointed if we didn’t add one or maybe two before the window closes.’
The former Birmingham chairman insists boss Grant has no set targets, aside from improving on last year’s finish of 17th.

‘I wouldn’t dream of putting any pressure on Avram,’ he said

The club’s owners hope to bring Beckham back to his roots to lead a revolution that will see the Hammers moving into the new Olympic Stadium by 2013.

Preliminary talks have begun with Beckham’s representatives in moves that started soon after David Gold and David Sullivan took over the club seven months ago.

to the East End of London

They see Beckham as the ideal ambassador for the club’s Olympic dream. And they are hoping he might even finish his playing career at West Ham as well.

“For him to join a club like ours and help us fulfil another dream would be perfect for everyone,” said Gold. We know what a great ambassador he is. Now we see David as an ambassador not just for West Ham but also for east London where it all started for him. I can see him playing a big part.

“We’ve had conversations with his people and made it clear we want him aboard. David could play a massive part, because of his roots, in helping West Ham make the Olympic Stadiumhome. And maybe he can still play for us in the autumn of his career. You have to grasp opportunities when they happen.

“This is all about dreams. Like myself and David Sullivan, David Beckham started life as a poor lad in the East End. Now we have the chance to make a lot more dreams come true here.”

Gold said Beckham’s potential role at West Ham would in no way interfere with his commitment to England’s 2018 World Cup bid.

“Beckham is just another piece in the jigsaw, but he is an East End boy and an iconic figure and if he tells us what he’d like to do we’d love to work with him,” added Gold. “He started in the East End and has lived and played all over the world. Now he has a fantastic opportunity to come home to his roots and be right in the middle of it all.”

West Ham, meanwhile, are pressing ahead with their bid to move into the Olympic Stadium at the start of the 2013-14 season. Essex County Cricket Club also hope to move in with them to play Twenty20 games at the stadium.

It is all part of an ambitious partnership with Newham Council which would then see the Hammers’ present Upton Park home redeveloped as part of a massive regeneration scheme.

“We’re in talks and have fantastic support from UK Athletics and people like the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, and we are optimistic that we are the best opportunity to continue the Olympic legacy,” said Gold.

“To just leave this wonderful stadium after the Games are over would be criminal negligence,” he claimed. “We can easily satisfy Lord Coe and the Olympians and keep the athletics track as well as having a good football stadium.

“In three years’ time we could be in one of the most exciting stadiums in the world and I will do everything in my power to make this happen. It is the perfect Olympic legacy – a centre of true excellence for West Ham and the country.”

Boris Johnson watch out. Here’s a woman after your own heart who knows exactly what she wants; the Olympic Stadium as the new home for one of the UK’s oldest and finest clubs, West Ham United, which she is convinced will put the fire back in the belly of East End football. But there’s more. Karren Brady, who’s been in the hotseat as vice-chairman of the Hammers for six months, wants the 80,000-seater stadium to bring “soul into London sports” by combining football, athletics, cricket and entertainment in one place, creating a lasting legacy for the UK from the 2012 Olympics.

“I can’t see any better use for it than my plan,” she says. “At the moment there is no long-term strategy or future. But my plan is not just to have a new stadium for West Ham but a real sporting centre for London: we’ve plans for joint season tickets with athletics, Twenty20 cricket, rugby, and we are talking to the NFL.

“West Ham need a bigger stadium as [Upton Park] can hold only 32,000 spectators but we could take 60,000 fans. We would also build a museum – don’t forget West Ham had more players in the 1966 World Cup final than anybody else. We’ve had some of the best players in the world – Bobby Moore, Trevor Brooking – it’s endless. Then there’s bringing new and old fans back to the club – I’ve got plans to bus up to 5,000 youngsters, both local and those who have moved out into more affluent Essex, back to watch matches, helping boost our fanbase and grow the club.”

There’s more. “When teams like Manchester United come to play, we’d have a proper pitch for them, somewhere good for the players to stay; they could go to the new Velodrome, the Aquadrome and we’d be helping bring business to the area, into the hotels and shops. It would help regenerate the whole area, bring jobs, training, new skills. We’ve got plans for a school on the site, working with the community and NHS for new services. Then there is using it as an arena for bands and shows; the point is we can bring it altogether. What better legacy could there be?”

Without pausing for breath, Brady answers herself: “Our plan would bring soul to this part of London which it needs so badly. It would be two big regenerations schemes in one – our Upton Park site could be developed, helping the district, and then the area around the Olympic stadium. I think Boris Johnson understands that if he’s not careful, he could have the largest white elephant ever sitting on his doorstep. He’s the ultimate owner. What a waste that would be.”

You don’t doubt Ms Brady. And she’s got lots of support for her Olympic pitch – including the local council, Newham, UK Athletics, Essex Cricket Club, City Airport and, as of last week, Westfield, the Australian property company who are building the £1.5bn Stratford City redevelopment which plans to bring shops, hotels, offices and flats into the area.

Brady claims many of the other ideas for the Olympic stadium when the Games finish are “bonkers”. One idea is to rip off the top tier of the stadium to bring it down to a more manageable 25,000-seater arena, more appropriate for athletics. “Bonkers,” says Brady, simply. “Complete lunacy. Why would you do it? It’s a sin too great to bear to have to rip off the top after all the work that has gone into building it. Just taking off the roof is estimated at £38m. All that stuff about the athletics track being in the sight-lines is a red herring. Even the huge media centre could be turned into a sports academy.”

Brady says her ambitious project will cost about £125m. How on earth will West Ham, who are still financially under the hammer, find the money? As you would expect, Brady reels off the numbers; extra money from takings at the gate, backing from the London Development Agency and other bodies, as well as “prudential” government loans.

But putting together a proper bid – which will cost the club about £250,000 or more – is why she has asked for a six-month exclusivity period from the government. “We’ll hear by the end of the month whether we’ve got it – I’m quietly confident. I would never say I’m 100 per cent sure but I expect to get it; it’s a no-brainer and absolutely right for the club and the community. It’s logical and makes sense.”

We meet at Upton Park in her tiny, dark office off one of the many, endless corridors that circle the ground, with only a small porthole of a window looking across to a local housing estate: “You should hear some of the domestics which go on, hilarious,” she laughs, “but at least I have a window, most of the offices don’t.” One of the first things she did on joining was to order a refit and building work is nearly finished for an open-plan office for the 50 or so staff.

“It was like West Ham Country Club – the place and the people were run down, physically and mentally. My style is to be an honest manager, to tell people what I expect of them, give them short-term goals and long-term strategy. You also have to give people self-confidence, self-esteem, and this place needed a lot of that.

“I’ve brought in three senior women. There was no diversity – all men – the sort of men who followed each other everywhere, and eventually off a cliff – a bit like the bankers during the crash really. There were no systems, no authority, no communication. Hopefully I have been able to inspire them, even some of the players, like Kieron Dyer, the midfielder who had been out with an injury for nearly a year.” The injury-plagued Dyer is back playing again, she adds with real delight.

When I ask how she thought the England team – which had two West Ham players, Matthew Upson and goalkeeper Robert Green – performed in the World Cup, she sighs: “Well, it was an anti-climax. In my humble opinion, the team had Sven – the partying, hard-playing, fun manager and then had Capello who told them what to wear, what to eat, who to phone. Instead of choosing someone in between which is what England should have done, it just didn’t seem to work. Some of the team didn’t know what they were meant to be doing.”

Big changes at West Ham are also on the cards. “West Ham have had a difficult time, came close to relegation. That’s why we brought in Avram Grant to replace Gianfranco Zola – who is a really nice guy but not right for us. The manager is the most important person of all – more important than David Gold or David Sullivan, far more important than me, I’m just the chief executive. The manager sets the DNA of the club; if the manager is upbeat, so is the team, if he’s down, so is the team. But Avram seems to have the right DNA. He comes across as dour on TV but actually he’s very witty, very funny. Arsenal is the club we should aspire to; fantastic reputation and sound finances. Avram understands the value of money. ”

Ah, money. While Brady is working on getting the revenue up and the £110m debt down, Grant and Gold – who played for the Hammers as a schoolboy – and Sullivan are looking for new talent and clearing out some dead wood. “We’ve got to be realistic, the team needs changing and, yes, everyone is theoretically up for sale apart from Scott Parker – he is the face and culture of the club.” But they are not in a hurry, although talks are ongoing with Nice striker Loïc Rémy.

Brady is dressed to kill, a figure-hugging grey sleeveless dress and lots of expensive bling including a Chopard watch, a present from her husband, ex-footballer, Paul Peschisolido, now the manager of Burton Albion. Early on in her career – she was only 23 when she went to Birmingham City – she says being young and female was a double disability. I doubt even she thinks that anymore; Brady is still only 41 but her youth and sexiness together with razor-like business skills seem pretty lethal advantages to me.

“You know,” she says, “the biggest criticism I hear about football is that it’s become remote from the fans; you can’t see the players anymore, can’t touch them, the only place you do is on the front pages – or back pages – of the newspaper. Even when they train, they are shrouded in mystery – no one can get to them and the fans don’t see them anymore. I have a vision that we can create a place at the new stadium where fans and supporters can come and be part of the club, see the players training, take part in the whole experience.”

It is no wonder Brady is working flat-out as she’s invested her own money in West Ham – a couple of million for a few per cent. Gold and Sullivan paid £50m for 50 per cent and recently bought a bit more. She’s just bought a small flat in London to be closer because the commute from Birmingham was getting too hard. But she’s still in the office before 8am, doesn’t leave till early evening, when she fits in the other stuff – being on the board of Sir Philip Green’s Top Shop group, Mothercare and Channel Four (although she’s about to step down) – and a new assistant to Lord Sugar on The Apprentice.

So who do her children support – West Ham or Burton? “Sophia, who is 14, didn’t even know I had left Birmingham until she saw the team sheet at Chelsea, so she isn’t interested – although she’s working in the stadium shop this week. Paolo, who is 11 and wants to be a footballer, supports both.” What about her? “West Ham is a great club and it’s hard not to fall in love with it.”

Leaving the stadium, one of West Ham’s longest-serving staff, Gill Moore, now in charge of operations, whispers to me: “See what I mean, she’s a breath of fresh air isn’t she?” I’d say more of a tornado.

Source: BBC Sport

First Published: 25th May 2010

BIG PLANS … David Sullivan and David Gold have pledged to deliver the goods at West Ham

Since sacking manager Gianfranco Zola, Gold and Sullivan have been busy plotting to transform the East London club’s fortunes.

Portsmouth boss Avram Grant is the favourite to replace Zola and finding the right man to lead the team features as the main point in the blueprint sent to supporters.

The letter states: “It may be the close-season but here at West Ham we are all busy preparing for 2010/11 and putting in place the next steps to take this club forward.

“Having admittedly had a tough end to the last campaign, we are determined to build on the many positives we have at the club and use the summer months to make sure we hit the ground running next time around.”

Gold and Sullivan, who go on to spell out their plans in full detail, have pledged to:

1) Appoint the right manager

2) Sign new players

3) Make more investment in the Academy

4) Continue to clear the debt

5) Freeze season ticket prices for renewals

6) Build the status and image of the club

7) Make it enjoyable to come and watch

8) Get closer to the community

9) Go for the Olympic Stadium

10) Listen to supporters

The letter ends with Gold and Sullivan telling fans: “This 10-point pledge is just the start.

“We are here for the long term and our goals will evolve as we progress. We are proud to be here and will never stop working for you.

“All of us share the same hopes and dreams. It is not just about aiming for cup finals or derby victories but about feeling part of something together and all pulling in the same direction.

“As the name says, we are very much West Ham. United.”

Published The Sun  May 18 2010

With nine greens, 13 tees and 18 holes, the layout of the course on the 50-acre estate of David Gold is somewhat unconventional. Which is not altogether surprising, since David, a hugely successful and decidedly unconventional businessman, designed it himself.

It started off as a modest green back in 1991 upon which genteel putting contests took place before tea and scones on Sunday afternoons. “Then someone brought a wedge along,” recalled David. Since pitching and putting proved more challenging and enjoyable, a tee was constructed and the opening hole was created. A second par-3 followed and David, a talented footballer in his youth, was hooked on golf.

Each hole is named after one of his business interests. The first, “Ann Summers”, carries the name of his retail chain. “St Andrews” has nothing to do with a certain links course in Scotland, but has been christened in honour of the home ground of his beloved Birmingham City, of which he is chairman. While the rather exposed 14th is called “The Sport”, after the newspaper he co-owns.

Although the course consists mainly of par-3s, there is a smattering of par-4s and a couple of challenging par-5s. Standard scratch is a rather generous 66 and the course record of 73 is held by Jasper Carrott.

Another famous name, actor Robert Powell, has recorded the only hole in one. It came on a 214-yard par-4. To the suggestion that perhaps that hole should more properly be designated a par-3, David simply responded, “It’s my course.” As well as the owner, he is also the captain and, if his handicap improves much below its present 24, he might even appoint himself club professional as well.

Since he’s not a member anywhere else, his home-produced handicap certificate has proved useful. It allowed him on at Penina in Portugal, for example. Although they had not heard of “The Chalet Championship Golf Club”, David was able to reassure them that it was an incredibly exclusive establishment.

It’s bad enough when you get stuck in a bunker playing golf, but it’s very much more serious when you’re flying a plane

As he gazed out of the living room/clubhouse window over his proud creation, course architect David Gold admitted to having made one mistake.

“I’ve had to fill in the fairway bunkers on the 560-yard 6th hole,” he confessed. “You see, that’s the landing strip for my Cessna aeroplane. It’s bad enough when you get stuck in a bunker playing golf, but it’s very much more serious when you’re flying a plane.”