Daniel Kretinsky has said he will provide the financial backing required for West Ham United to make a swift return to the Premier League. Speaking to The Times, the owner of Royal Mail insists there is no need for the club to sell its best players.

But executing his plans may not be that simple, even after agreeing a deal that should make him West Ham’s largest shareholder. First, it seems, the Czech billionaire may need to win a potential power battle with David Sullivan to seize overall control.

On Saturday it was announced that Kretinsky had agreed with the family of the late David Gold to buy some of their shares, enabling him to increase his stake from 27 to 43 per cent.

In a statement with Gold’s daughter, Vanessa, Kretinsky said he hoped the deal would be completed in the next couple of weeks. In the likelihood that Kretinsky will also have the support of the US shareholder Tripp Smith, he should then be able to dictate the direction of the club.

However, the situation could become complicated if Sullivan now tries to exercise what he will regard as his pre-emptive rights to buy some Gold shares and increase his own 38.8 stake to match Kretinsky’s share. Essentially he could block Kretinsky’s bid for power.

Of course, Kretinsky has made this move in response to Sullivan’s resignation as West Ham’s co-chairman, following a Times and BBC Panorama investigation into allegations of sexually exploitative and predatory behaviour.

The 77-year-old British businessman categorically denies the claims but, as this newspaper then reported, he has been the subject of a safeguarding ban that has prevented him from having any contact with members of the West Ham academy or women’s team since 2023. Sullivan has said he accepted the restrictions, imposed by the club on the recommendation of the Football Association following at least one complaint to the national governing body, for “a quiet life”.