A fruitful relationship was born. Sullivan, Gold and Brady left Birmingham in 2009 and turned up at West Ham in January 2010. It was a challenging time. West Ham’s Icelandic owners had left the club in huge financial trouble and relegation from the top flight was on the cards. As West Ham said in their statement yesterday, Gold was partly responsible for helping “to steady the ship and protect the Club’s future during a period of great financial uncertainty”. It was clear that he had a genuine and sincere love for the Club and was a true supporter at heart. He took a great interest in the people working behind the scenes and was always keen to help in any way he could. He will be greatly missed.”

I am extremely sad to hear this news and, on behalf of all of the players and my staff at the training ground, I would like to extend our deepest sympathies to David Gold’s family at this very difficult time,” West Ham’s manager, David Moyes said. “Mr Gold was a regular visitor to Rush Green and always a source of great support and encouragement to myself and the players. Gold, who was proud of his Jewish heritage, was a popular figure. He was a regular presence at West Ham’s training ground and was described by many people as a kind and generous man.

It is anticipated that Gold’s 25% stake in the club will pass to his daughters, Vanessa and Jacqueline, and that the family will continue to have a presence on the board. Sullivan is the club’s largest shareholder with a stake of 38.8%. The Czech billionaire, Daniel Kretinsky, is an increasingly influential voice after buying a 27% stake in November 2021. On behalf of everyone at the football club, it is with profound sorrow and a heavy heart that we mourn the passing of our colleague and friend, David Gold,” Sullivan said of his old friend yesterday. Supporters pay tribute to the late David Gold prior to the match between Leeds and West Ham at Elland Road on Wednesday evening. Photograph: Alex Dodd/CameraSport/Getty Images