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The fiancée of West Ham owner David Sullivan has warned Hammers fans to 'be careful of what you wish for' after thousands of furious supporters protested against his ownership ahead of their Premier League clash with Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Fans marched outside the ground and called for owner Sullivan, 76, and vice-chair Karren Brady, 56, to resign from their posts, with the club looming in a lowly 19th place in the top flight. The supporters, led by the group Hammers United, believe the club is 'going to die' under the owners' direction.
Going into the game, West Ham already sat in the relegation zone after what has been a substandard start to the campaign under manager Graham Potter. A 2-1 defeat to the Eagles only plunged them further into danger.
Fans are disgruntled about the club's perceived inability to kick on since leaving their beloved Upton Park/Boleyn Ground for the London Stadium in 2016. Sullivan said before the 2016-17 season that their aim was to win a domestic treble, but they have finished no higher than sixth since then.
Fans marched with banners which read 'Sold our soul: 15 years of destroying West Ham United'; 'Lies, lies, lies... S&B out'; 'No more BS'; and 'Long live the Boleyn' among others.
However, while Sullivan himself has stayed silent since the protest, his reality TV star fiancée Ampika Pickston, 44, has taken to social media in an X-rated defence of her soon-to-be husband.
David Sullivan's fiancée, 44, Ampika Pickston has come to the defence of the West Ham owner
West Ham fans protested in their masses against their Sullivan and vice-chair Karren Brady before their game agaisnt Crystal Palace on Saturday
Both Sullivan and Pickston were in the stands to see the Hammers lose their fifth of just six games this season
'He works his a** off and gives a s*** about the club,' Pickston wrote. 'Spent a fortune on players and managers. There is no exact science to guarantee results.
'When David Sullivan and David Gold left Birmingham, the fans were thrilled; within 18 months, the new Chinese owners ruined the club. Be careful of what you wish for.
'He gives a f***, until you have walked in someone else's shoes no one can a true comprehension of all sides and dynamics. He is just as devastated as you. Believe me.
It's unlikely that such words will resonate with the Hammers faithful; they seem to have fully turned on both the board and Potter.
Saturday's defeat was West Ham's fifth from six games in all competitions this season, with chants of ‘Sack the board’ heard from the stands as Palace took home all three points from the London Stadium.
There were also chants of ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’ directed at Potter during the 90 minutes, and despite the coach insisting he still has the support of the board, it is understood the club will feel forced to make a change unless he can oversee a dramatic change of results in the coming weeks.
Senior sources told Daily Mail Sport ahead of the game that Potter still had their full backing, but they have already begun to line up potential replacements should they make a change, with former boss Slaven Bilic and ex-Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo among those discussed.
And Pickston, who is famous for her participation in the Real Housewives of Cheshire show, has also dropped a hint that change may soon be coming in the dugout at the end of her social media rant.
Pickston, who is famous for being on Real Housewives of Chesire, said that Sullivan 'gives a s*** about the club' despite what fans may think
The 44-year-old also hinted that 'change' was coming amid speculation that manager Graham Potter (pictured) is soon to be sacked
She added: 'I see your point of view, watch this space as things will change. Don't lose faith.'
Some banners used during the protest had seemingly been reused from previous protests, calling for the exit of former co-owner David Gold, despite the fact that he died in January 2023.
Sullivan and Brady have been in post at West Ham since 2010.
Hammers United said: 'If we are going to get our club back our fanbase is going to have to fight. With Brady and Sullivan at the helm our club is going to die. It is in serious decline and dying a slow death.
'With thousands of long-term, time-served fans walking away, another relegation fight beckoning and another early cup exit, we cannot allow this to happen on our watch.
'We must show the world that Brady and Sullivan's position is untenable and they must step aside for the good of the club.
'They must have no more involvement in the running of West Ham United, which must be handed over to professionals with the expertise and drive to move the club forward.'
The protest comes just two weeks after the fans' advisory board issued a vote of no confidence in the club's leadership.
Hammers United are also calling for a boycott of their clash with Brentford on October 20.
