David Sullivan steps down at West Ham to fight claims about private life

‘None of these allegations relate to my more than 30 years in football; West Ham United has been one of the greatest passions and privileges of my life,’ says David Sullivan. Photograph: Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images View image in fullscreen ‘None of these allegations relate to my more than 30 years in football; West Ham United has been one of the greatest passions and privileges of my life,’ says David Sullivan. Photograph: Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images David Sullivan steps down at West Ham to fight claims about private life Joint-chair and director of relegated club to tackle ‘false allegations’ ‘I am absolutely not the person the media has decided to paint me as’ David Sullivan has announced his resignation as a joint-chair and director of West Ham with immediate effect in a statement. Sullivan and his legal representatives published his intention to stand down on the club’s website on Saturday “for the benefit of transparency”. It read: “I have recently become aware that factually incorrect and entirely false, decades-old allegations concerning my personal life are due to be broadcast and published. “The false allegations levelled against me have been sensationalised by the media. After a lifetime spent building businesses in the adult industry in which I have met thousands of women, it is sadly inevitable that a small number of improper conduct claims are being made against me. I categorically deny these claims. “I am a private man, and those who personally and professionally know the real David Sullivan, not the caricature invented by the tabloids, know exactly who I am and what I stand for. I am absolutely not the person the media has decided to paint me as. “I have not been provided with any proper explanation as to how these individuals or their claims were independently verified or assessed for credibility prior to publication. I believe that the entire process has been fundamentally unfair and completely lacking in any due impartiality. “I will be suing the BBC for libel, along with any other media outlet that repeats any libellous allegations. “None of these allegations relate to my more than 30 years in football; West Ham United has been one of the greatest passions and privileges of my life. I care deeply about the club, its supporters, its players, its staff, and its future. At what is already a challenging and important time for the club, I refuse to allow personal matters concerning me to become an unnecessary distraction or a source of instability. “Therefore, after very careful consideration and with a heavy heart, I have decided to resign as Joint-Chair and Director of West Ham United FC with immediate effect. “This has been an incredibly painful decision to make, but it is one made out of love, respect, and responsibility toward a football club and a fan base that deserve absolute unity and focus moving forward. “I am stepping down to apply my full energy and attention on fighting these false allegations. I have offic