Daniel Kretinsky set to deliver exciting West Ham fan boost | OneFootball

The Hammers’ majority shareholder has news that will be welcomed at the London Stadium.

West Ham United will be beginning to put their plans into action ahead of their return to the Championship.

The Hammers are preparing for their first Championship campaign since 2012 after coming 18th in the top-flight, missing out on safety by just two points.

Returning to the Premier League at the first time of asking is definitely something the East London outfit have to target given they are likely to have dominant financial resources compared to the rest of the division and could raise significant money through a number of player sales this summer.

The task now for the Hammers hierarchy will be to build a squad with enough quality and balance to navigate the challenges that a 46-game campaign brings, with there set to be a big difference in scheduling and physicality compared to the Premier League.

Nuno will, of course, be hopeful of replicating what he did during his last season in the second tier with Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2018, when he helped the Black Country outfit claim the Championship crown after securing 99 points.

Of course, while the players on the pitch will dictate much of West Ham’s season, there have been many grumbles about the lack of atmosphere inside the London Stadium, ever since their move away from the Boleyn Ground in 2016.

It’s been a common cause of frustration for the way West Ham have declined over the last decade, with inconsistencies on their home patch leading to a drop back down to the Championship.

But the new majority shareholder and Czech businessman Daniel Kretinsky is set to deliver an exciting revamp to West Ham’s home, which can hopefully generate a much better matchday experience for their return to the second tier.

Daniel Kretinsky plans to remove running track at London Stadium

With a new era for West Ham starting with Daniel Kretinsky as the club’s majority shareholder, he already has plans in place to make noticeable changes to the London Stadium, making key tweaks that will improve the overall atmosphere and get supporters to enjoy going to their home ground again.

A main gripe is how far West Ham supporters are away from the pitch, largely due to a running track, which has made the London Stadium feel less of a traditional footballing stadium and more of an arena.

But it’s understood that Kretinsky is planning to remove the running track and move the seats forward in a bid to improve the matchday going experience for fans.

West Ham are also hoping to invest in other infrastructure, such as the training ground, with plans for new facilities being drawn up.

While these plans are all still in their early stages, supporters are bound to be pleased that changes, that have needed implementing for a long time, are trying to be put into action.

One concern is that West Ham don’t actually own the stadium, signing a 99-year lease in 2013 before the move into their new home in 2016.

Because of this, the stadium remains publicly owned, so Kretinsky will have stumbling blocks to navigate over before his plans can come to fruition.

Daniel Kretinsky’s ambitious plans are a big positive for West Ham

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The view at the London Stadium has received so much criticism from West Ham fans over the years, as well as neutral and away supporters, so these changes would be welcomed by everybody.

While there will be complications involved in the process, you feel it’s something Daniel Kretinsky can still implement, given it would be so beneficial to the football club, and it’s positive signs that the new majority shareholder is listening to fan concerns and looking to move the club forward.

Improving the atmosphere of the London Stadium could be so key to West Ham getting back to the Premier League at the first time of asking, with the Hammers needing to establish their home form and make the London Stadium a fortress so they can be towards the upper ends of the Championship standings.

Overall, it’s a great move for all connected with West Ham, with supporters wanting the enjoyment of attending home matches – something that hasn’t been felt over the last decade.