WHISA, WHISA baby

  • by Staff Writer
  • Friday, 1st November 2013

A group of supporters disillusioned with the way in which West Ham is being run have established a new fans' action group.

The group, known as the West Ham Independent Supporters' Association have issued a press release announcing details of a meeting planned for later this month, to which all fellow fans are invited to attend.

WHISA's long term strategy involves forming a representative body to act on behalf of all West Ham supporters - "to unite all WHU fans" - and crucially, one that is independent of the Club unlike the much-criticised Supporter Advisory Board.

"From its inception, West Ham United FC was known as a ‘family owned’ Club with our owners and Chairmen always perceived as having the best interests of the Club, and by extension the fans, at heart," read the group's statement.

" However, since the controversial Hammers Bond Scheme the relationship and communication between fans and the owners has become increasingly uneasy, fractious and confrontational.

"The current owners set up the Supporter Advisory Board but as this body is not independent of the Club, many fans feel that this hinders the workings and ultimate effectiveness of the group.

"With the recent multitude of off-field own goals by the Club and growing disillusionment with the Board, many fans believe that it is now time for an independent supporter association to be established that gets its strength from its membership and who will be able to best represent our views and opinions.

"To this end, an inaugural meeting has been called for Thursday 28th November 2013 at the Supporters Club, Castle Street, E6; 7pm for a 7:30pm start."

For those interested in attending, a copy of the group's draft constitution may be obtained from whisa@btinternet.com.


Haven't we been here before?

The most notable fans' protest group in recent years went under the banner of Brown Out! - with the group's sole motivation being the removal of then-Chairman Terry Brown from his position.

A figure ill at ease with publicity, Brown was blamed for selling the Club's crown jewels - the likes of Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick, Joe Cole and Glenn Johnson - and failing to invest in either the Club or playing squad.

The first Brown Out! protests took place in late 2002 - on the same night the long-dormant West Ham United Supporters Trust was formed - and continued for more than a year.

In 2003 another fans' group - WHISTLE, who sought investors from the City in order to raise sufficient funds to prise control of the Club away from Brown - was inaugurated. Like Brown Out! and the WHUST, they were to prove short-lived although all three could feasibly claim to have achieved their aim when the Chairman sold the Club lock, stock and barrel to the Icelandic consortium in 2007.

Brown, who borrowed the £2million stake required to wrestle control of West Ham in the early 1990s eventually sold the Club for circa £85million - and once the Magnusson/Gudmundsson empire had collapsed, bought a small stake back and was awarded an Honourary Life Presidency (for the second time, having previously been stripped of the title).

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