Confirmation of the joint investigation between BBC Panorama and The Times came after Sullivan announced his decision to step down as West Ham chairman in a statement denying any wrongdoing
The BBC have announced they plan to air an episode of Panorama next week after an “investigation into the behaviour” of West Ham owner David Sullivan.
It came after Sullivan, 77, said he was standing down as West Ham chairman after announcing he had been “made aware of the impending publication of serious historic allegations”. It came in a lengthy personal statement revealing his decision and denying any wrongdoing on Saturday afternoon.
A BBC spokesperson told the Mirror: “BBC Panorama and The Times newspaper have been working together on a joint investigation into the behaviour of David Sullivan, who has announced he is stepping down as Joint-Chair and Director of West Ham United FC. Over decades, he’s made millions from pornography, newspapers, and football. The investigation is due to be broadcast and published on Monday.”
In his statement Mr Sullivan said: “I have recently become aware that factually incorrect and entirely false, decades-old allegations concerning my personal life are due to be broadcast and published. The false allegations levelled against me have been sensationalised by the media.
“After a lifetime spent building businesses in the adult industry in which I have met thousands of women, it is sadly inevitable that a small number of improper conduct claims are being made against me. I categorically deny these claims. I am a private man, and those who personally and professionally know the real David Sullivan, not the caricature invented by the tabloids, know exactly who I am and what I stand for. I am absolutely not the person the media has decided to paint me as.
“I have not been provided with any proper explanation as to how these individuals or their claims were independently verified or assessed for credibility prior to publication. I believe that the entire process has been fundamentally unfair and completely lacking in any due impartiality.”
Sullivan bought a 50 per cent share in West Ham with the late David Gold in 2010 and is still the biggest shareholder at the club, who were relegated from the Premier League last month, with a 38.8 per cent share. He entered the porn market aged 21, selling pornographic pictures, photos and magazines by mail order.
By the mid-1970s, he reportedly controlled half of the adult magazine market, before expanding his empire and launching the downmarket Sunday Sport newspaper in 1986. His decision to step down from West Ham comes just weeks after Baroness Karren Brady stepped down as vice-chair after 16 years.
The businesswoman, who was appointed in January 2010 by then joint-chairs David Sullivan and David Gold, left on April 15. At the time, she said she had made the decision to leave in mid-February, having first started considering it in January. Brady’s arrival at West Ham came after she spent more than 16 years at Birmingham City where she was appointed managing director aged just 23 in 1993 when Sullivan bought the club. She later became the youngest managing director of a UK public limited company when she floated the club on the London Stock Exchange in 1997.
Sullivan today said he will sue any publication or media outlet that repeat what he described as the “libelous allegations”. He said: “None of these allegations relate to my more than 30 years in football. West Ham United has been one of the greatest passions and privileges of my life. I care deeply about the club, its supporters, its players, its staff, and its future. At what is already a challenging and important time for the club, I refuse to allow personal matters concerning me to become an unnecessary distraction or a source of instability.
“Therefore, after very careful consideration and with a heavy heart, I have decided to resign as Joint-Chair and Director of West Ham United FC with immediate effect. This has been an incredibly painful decision to make, but it is one made out of love, respect, and responsibility toward a football club and a fan base that deserve absolute unity and focus moving forward.”
He added: “I am stepping down to apply my full energy and attention on fighting these false allegations. I have officially engaged my legal team and we are preparing to issue legal proceedings in respect of each and every false complaint that has been made against me. I will be seeking full redress, legally and publicly, on every single front.
“As I depart, I want to thank everyone connected with West Ham United, past and present, for the loyalty, friendship, memories and European adventures and successes that I will carry with me forever. West Ham United will always remain close to my heart, and I have total confidence that the Board of Directors and interim Chief Executive Officer Karim Virani will do everything they can to take the club forward in the right direction. I wish everyone connected with the club every success in the future. I will not be making further public comment at this stage, but I reserve all legal rights available to me in relation to any false or defamatory allegations.”
A separate West Ham club statement said they would update supporters on the future structure of the board in due course, after a meeting on Saturday morning. The statement said: “West Ham United can confirm that Joint-Chair David Sullivan has stepped down from his position with immediate effect.
“Mr Sullivan has also resigned as a director of both WH Holding Limited and West Ham United Football Club, having been made aware of the impending publication of serious historic allegations. It is understood none of the allegations relate to West Ham United or any of its operations. Through his own legal representatives Mr Sullivan denies any illegal conduct and has taken the decision to step down in order to avoid disruption to the Club while he addresses the matter privately.
“Interim Chief Executive Officer Karim Virani, reporting into the current Board of Directors, will continue to be responsible for leading the Club’s day-to-day operations. The Club will provide an update on the future structure of the Board of Directors in due course, but will make no further comment at this time.”
