Daniel Kretinsky backed to make 'no-brainer' change to West Ham's London Stadium | OneFootball

There have been reports that the Hammers' majority shareholder could make a critical change.

There have been key changes at West Ham already this summer, and they have nothing to do with incoming or outgoing transfers.

Shortly after the Premier League season finished, the Hammers made the key decision to stick with Nuno Espírito Santo despite the Portuguese's inability to turn around the club's wretched campaign.

Then followed David Sullivan's stepping down as co-chairman and director of the club, although he remains a major shareholder, with Daniel Křetínský increasing his stake and becoming the club's largest shareholder.

There have been reports that the Czech billionaire is poised to make a defining change at the club, and it seems supporters would be on board with such a decision.

Daniel Křetínský urged to make London Stadium change at West Ham

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With Nuno at the helm and Kretinsky West Ham's largest shareholder, the club seem to be heading into the summer with stability.

While significant changes are expected in terms of players, with big names such as Mateus Fernandes, Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville expected to depart, it seems that the Czech billionaire is planning on altering the London Stadium.

The Hammers moved to the stadium from the Boleyn Ground in 2016, but the switch was divisive among supporters, with the running track a major barrier between fans and the pitch.

However, Kretinsky plans to remove the running track from the London Stadium, and when asked about this, FLW's West Ham fan pundit Ryan Horn was in no doubt what the 50-year-old should do.

"Removing the running track and bringing the seats close to the pitch is a no-brainer," he told Football League World.

"It's one of the easiest wins he can get for fans. I think it just brings a little bit more hope that we can turn this stadium more into our home now.

"We need to make it ours and do it. We've had some amazing games with some brilliant atmospheres. I've been to a few myself, and just imagine it with the pitch close to the stands, the gap in between the stands filled, we could create just an amazing football pitch.

"Daniel Křetínský can make that stadium the world-class football stadium that was promised to us when we were moving from the amazing Boleyn Ground, so I think this is a must-do, and it is a must-win for the board. They must do this right."

What hurdles could Kretinsky face in removing London Stadium running track?

Removing the running track would bring fans closer to the action and would surely create a better atmosphere within the London Stadium, but it is not as simple as digging it up.

Firstly, the stadium is now owned by the football club, so they would need approval from elsewhere before plans could get underway.

Furthermore, one of the key conditions when the Hammers won the right to move into the ground was that it would remain a multi-use venue with an athletics track, and UK Athletics has a long-term agreement to stage major events there each summer.

While a decision to remove the track would not be controversial among West Ham supporters, it would certainly be so in the capital, as significant public money was spent preserving the athletics legacy.

Then there is the timescale, as it would likely take years and a hefty sum of money before the track was dug up, removed and the seats brought closer to the pitch.