David Gold’s time as co-owner of West Ham United has been nothing short of eventful.
The 80-year-old, along with David Sullivan, has overseen a relegation, a promotion and two European eliminations at the hands of Astra Giurgiu.
He’s also confused Pedro Obiang with Angelo Ogbonna, before deciding to sign both players anyway, and responded to the standing debate at West Ham’s new London Stadium in his own unique way.
EXCLUSIVE: Gold starts safe seating talks
— David Gold (@davidgold) September 5, 2016
The Irons’ standing debate has been the subject of controversy among supporters, who have been sent letters in the post urging them that bums on seats means bums on seats.
That hasn’t sat well with everyone (pun intended), with many quick to point out that things have got much stricter since the move away from the Boleyn Ground over the summer.
This came to the fore in the home defeat at the hands of Watford, where a minority of fans reportedly got into scraps during the first half (when the home side opened up a 2-0 lead) and again at full-time, making for an uncomfortable atmosphere.
There have been calls to relocate people so sitters are all grouped together and standers are allowed to stay on their feet, prompting an official statement this week in which the club insists it is “doing everything possible within its jurisdiction to help provide a safe and enjoyable environment for all supporters”.
And Gold thinks it’s not beyond West Ham to find a solution, though he had a uniquely bizarre way of expressing it.
50 years ago we put a man on the moon. So I don't think it's beyond the wit of man/woman to solve the problems at the new London stadium. dg
— David Gold (@davidgold) September 14, 2016
The responses have ranged from the obvious…
https://twitter.com/AsTallAsHerEyes/status/775969157770797060
maybe you could get Armstrong to visit and compare atmospheres…
— Chesh (@JamesCheshire1) September 14, 2016
To the conspiratorial…
https://twitter.com/aldredtj/status/775966933107798016
Moon landing was fake.
— Ryan (@ryanheir88) September 14, 2016
To in-jokes…
Mr Moon has left the building
— Rob W (@_JayBrown_) September 14, 2016
To variations on ‘put an X on the Y’…
you should have put a defender on the line when Deeney chipped it!
— matthew (@pro_m1spence) September 14, 2016
To the super-serious…
But "we" didn't! It was done by the richest economy in the world.
— Pete Paris 🎸🎣⚽️🇪🇺🇬🇧🇫🇷🇺🇦 (@Peteparis48) September 14, 2016
but they had people who knew what they doing guiding them unlike our stewards
— JoshWilk93⚒ (@JoshWilky93) September 14, 2016
To…okay, this one’s pretty good.
Just like the Apollo 11 mission, Gold will surely be hoping the actions of the club will ensure there’s a Buzz about the place. Sorry.
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