EGM: Board suffer 'no confidence' vote

Hammers chairman Terry Brown was given a clear message of 'no confidence' from supporters at today's EGM - despite the resolutions at the heart of the meeting being passed.

The resolutions - mainly to remove the club's existing borrowing limit, and to remove the cap of renumeration for non-executive directors were carried as expected, by 16,367,912 shares for to 224,019 against.

However in terms of number of heads present the board suffered an embarrassing defeat. Although the club chose not to allow shareholders to vote with the usual show of hands (prefering to count the votes during the recess) it is estimated that for every individual vote in favour of the resolutions there were, at the very least, 10 against - representing a huge vote of 'no confidence' in the board from those shareholders present.

Brown, speaking on whufc.co.uk this afternoon (Thursday) not surprisingly saw the result somewhat differently:

"I would like to thank our shareholders for attending today’s EGM and for their overwhelming support for the resolution to adopt the new Articles of Association," he said. "To have received 98.65% support for the resolution, and just 1.35% against, at the end of a difficult season is very much appreciated."

However, as already explained, the 98.65% he refers to actually equated to a tiny minority of shareholders present today.

Although the board may be claiming victory they will no doubt be concerned by the huge numbers that voted against the amendments by way of protest against the board, and their recent handling of the club.

We'll have more from today's AGM in due course ...