West Ham owners critical of PAI Capital's bid

EPL side West Ham's owners "insist they will not sell the club to PAI Capital," with club sources accusing the consortium of being "property developers" rather than "football people." PAI, which is funded by Azerbaijani millionaire Nasib Piriyev and includes former Queens Park Rangers CEO Philip Beard, announced on Thursday night that they had "outlined an agreement with the owners of the London Stadium to take control of the ground should a bid be accepted." An informal approach to buy the club was made to co-Owner David Sullivan in February and firmly rejected. Sullivan recently described the offer as "derisory," though Beard claims it "matched the price asked" by Sullivan. The two sides "also dispute whether proof of funds were provided." PAI Capital claims it wants to "overhaul the stadium and surrounding area, but no progress on that front can ever be made by the consortium unless they have control of the club" (London EVENING STANDARD, 8/6).