West Ham United were relegated on the final day of the Premier League season, and it is set to cost the club more as they move towards the Championship.
West Ham were relegated despite winning against Leeds(Image: Kevin Hodgson/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The Londoners face a £2.5 million bill after West Ham United were relegated from the Premier League on the final day of the season. The Irons beat Leeds United 3-0 at the London Stadium but it proved too little and too late as Spurs overcame Everton to secure their survival in the top flight.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are heading to the championship after finishing two points behind Spurs. It’s been 15 years since a team reached the Hammers’ tally of 39 points and been relegated.
While the pain of relegation is usually reserved for players representing a club and their ardent fans, on this occasion the frustration runs deeper. Taxpayers are set to see further strain on their funds due to the deal which saw West Ham move to the London Stadium after it was built for the 2012 Olympics.
Under a 99-year lease, West Ham only need to pay the Greater London Authority around half of its current annual rent of £4.4 million after relegation. The deal struck by former London Mayor Boris Johnson sees the GLA footing the bill for administration and costs associated with the stadium, with those bills expected to rise.
With four more home matches in the Championship compared to the Premier League, attendance spending will be higher, while commercial revenues are expected to fall, with the stadium lacking the massive reach of the world’s most prestigious division.
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Speaking before the final day’s drama, London Mayor Sadiq Khan admitted that Londoners who are not Tottenham fans should probably cheer for West Ham to avoid relegation.
“The former mayor, Boris Johnson, made the worst deal imaginable,” Khan said.
“As far as West Ham are concerned, this is a deal of the century where he basically gave them free rent, this incredible stadium for 100 years.
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“If West Ham are relegated, we, the taxpayers, we, the council, could lose up to £2.5m a year. So what I say to Londoners who don’t support Spurs is that you should probably support West Ham, because the taxpayer will lose out if West Ham go down.”
West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen was left devastated after relegation was confirmed. The striker, who missed a call-up for the World Cup in England, suggested he is now focused on promoting the Irons, despite them being linked with Liverpool and Manchester United.
“Ultimately this season we weren’t good enough and we paid the price,” he told Sky Sports.
“I’m under contract here. I’ve been here for six and a half years. I’ve had some really strong moments and this is one weak moment that will outweigh everything.
“There are going to be rumors, there are going to be discussions. Ultimately what I see is getting this club back to the Premier League because that’s where they deserve to be.
“It’s a really, really tough time, but we have to bounce back because there’s no other way. It’s a really tough time.
“You never know what the future holds. For me, I want to get this club back to the Premier League. At the moment our vision is to do that.”
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