West Ham United moved to the top of the Championship table following a dramatic 3-2 victory away at Bolton Wanderers, a result that also extended their winning run to three consecutive league matches. It marks the first time the Hammers have achieved such a streak since December 2023, a period that came to symbolize unfulfilled promise under former manager David Moyes before the club's eventual relegation from the Premier League last May.
Captain Jarrod Bowen was at the heart of the victory, opening the scoring early in the match and then netting a late goal to seal the win in a five-goal encounter. Around 4,500 West Ham supporters made the trip north to Bolton and stayed behind after the final whistle to celebrate with the players, a scene that reflected renewed optimism among a fanbase that has endured a turbulent few years.
While chants in praise of Bowen and the club rang out among the away end, supporters also directed pointed songs toward former chairman David Sullivan, none of them flattering. Sullivan, who resigned as chairman in June while vowing to contest allegations raised in a joint investigation by BBC Panorama and The Times, has nonetheless remained a visible presence at West Ham matches, attending every home league fixture this season as well as an away draw at Watford last month.
His continued involvement has puzzled some fans, especially given that his resignation—alongside Karren Brady's departure as managing director in April—was seen as a key reason behind the club selling roughly 50,000 season tickets for their first campaign outside the Premier League since 2011. Average home attendances in the league have exceeded 60,000 this season, and a crowd of 53,369 for the EFL Cup first-round win over Portsmouth set a record for that stage of the competition.
Under a complex ownership agreement announced on 3 September, Sullivan is expected to end up holding a 40% stake in the club, while Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky, owner of Royal Mail, is set to become the largest shareholder with 46%. Despite retaining a significant stake, insiders suggest Sullivan's influence over day-to-day operations has diminished considerably.
Karim Virani has been credited with making a strong early impression as chief executive, engaging directly with supporters on sensitive topics including the club crest, which was altered in 2016 around the move from the Boleyn Ground. Meanwhile, director of football Nils Koppen has brought more structure and transparency to the club's recruitment process. Twelve players were sold during a summer overhaul—including Crysencio Summerville and Mateus Fernandes—while nine arrived, among them Belgium international Arne Engels, signed from Celtic for an EFL record £22m, and Norwegian talent Edvin Austbo, a £10m capture from Viking who was named his country's young player of the year.
Uncertainty still lingers, however, particularly regarding the intentions of Amanda Staveley, whose July agreement with former co-chair Vanessa Gold triggered the pre-emption process that ultimately reshaped the club's ownership structure. Some supporters remain wary of what comes next. Simon Lane, a long-time season ticket holder from north Wales, admitted the situation remains difficult to read. "It seemed Sullivan was going when he stepped down, but that hasn't happened," he said. "No-one really knows what to make of it all... It's difficult to know what is for the best really... I am optimistic for the season though."
Head coach Nuno Espirito Santo struck a hopeful tone when discussing the club's direction. "I hope it's better," he said. "I think it's the belief of everybody, starting from the ownership to the staff, to the players, and fans, that we are trying to improve and have better days. What I see, and feel is unity in all the departments of the club... (What happened in the past) is behind us. It's very important to be unified. There is no other way."
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.