WEST HAM owners David Gold and David Sullivan have increased their stake in the club to 60 per cent.

The pair each increased the shareholdings from 25 per cent – the amount they bought when they took over the club in January - to 30 per cent.

Sullivan and Gold purchased the extra 10 per cent from CB Holdings – the club's previous Icelandic owners – for £8million, with half of that going to the club and the other half to CB Holdings.

Sullivan insisted the move was a signal of the chairmen's long-term commitment to West Ham.

“Myself and David Gold are, like you, West Ham United fans and our aim is to ensure our club enjoys a stable and successful future,” he told the club's official website. “To this end, we have both invested a further £4m to increase our shareholding to 30 per cent each.

“We have a long-term intention of increasing our shareholding, while we also have invited professional investors to share in our vision for this special club. Also, in the near future we hope to extend to supporters the opportunity to invest in the club.

“We are committed to putting West Ham on a firm financial footing that will form the basis, we hope, for success both on and off the pitch.”

Sullivan and Gold have a three-year option to buy the remaining 40 per cent of the club from CB Holdings.