Hammers' fan on stadium ban

David Gold has responded to the ban placed on him attending this weekend's Premier League clash between Birmingham City and West Ham United.

The 73-year-old United chairman was informed - via email - that he would not be welcome at St Andrews following a spat with Blues chairman Peter Pannu, who Gold claimed had reneged on an agreement to allow him to continue as City chairman during the club's 2009 sale.

"I was looking forward to attending the game at Birmingham City FC, seeing old friends and was more than happy to put my personal differences aside for the day and shake hands with Peter Pannu and the rest of the Birmingham board," Gold said on whufc.com. "I am therefore extremely disappointed that the club has decide to withdraw their offer to invite me to St. Andrew's.

"Despite this, I look forward to welcoming each member of the Birmingham City board to Upton Park when they visit us in February for the return fixture. I do not want this matter to overshadow or distract from what is a vital game for West Ham United, and as such I will not be making any further comments at this moment in time."

West Ham face Birmingham at St Andrews tomorrow afternoon; the game kicks off at 3pm.