WEST HAM owners David Gold and David Sullivan will watch tonight's Carling Cup semi-final second leg against Birmingham at St Andrew's on television after deciding not to attend the match.

The former owners of Birmingham City, along with Hammers vice-chairman Karren Brady, will not watch the match from the stands.

Gold was banned from the league game between the two sides at St Andrew's earlier this season but was given permission to attend the match this evening, with West Ham leading 2-1 from the first leg.

Sullivan said: “I don't want to offend anyone by not going but I can't face doing that journey back if we lose.

“If it wasn't on TV, we would all be there 100 per cent. But I've done that long journey six or seven hundred times and I can't face getting back at 2am feeling depressed if we have lost.

“I'll be partying at home with my kids, like every West Ham United fan, if we go through.”