WEST HAM co-owner David Sullivan admits there will be 'dramatic' changes to the playing staff should the club be relegated this season, although he insisted he and partner David Gold would ride out the storm at Upton Park.
The Hammers are rock bottom of the Premier League with four games to play. The first of those is a tricky trip to Champions League-chasing Manchester City, before clashes against Blackburn Rovers, Wigan and Sunderland.
Football Writers' Player of the Year Scott Parker would almost certainly be snapped up by a top league club, should West Ham go down, while goalkeeper Robert Green, striker Carlton Cole and captain Matthew Upson – whose contract runs out at the end of the season – could lead the exodus from the Boleyn Ground.
Sullivan, though, has vowed to stay put, come what may. The club would collect £48million in parachute payments over five years if they did drop into the Championship, but the Hammers' owner claimed he and Gold would need to dip into their pockets to keep the club stable.
“There would be a £40m hole in our cash flow, which would have to be met by myself and David Gold,” said Sullivan.
“There would have to be a dramatic change in players coming and going as we could only keep those who are committed to the club and willing to play in the Championship.
“We would also be totally committed to getting promoted immediately.
“It would be a huge setback if we were to go down but this is the club we support and David and I see it as a long-term project.
“Whatever happens we will be sticking with the club. There is no more pressure than the pressure we put on ourselves.”
Of the team's prospects of remaining in the Premier League, Sullivan added: “We still have at least a 25-30 per cent chance of staying up so all is not yet lost.”
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