DG: Whelan comments 'unfortunate'

  • by Staff Writer
  • Friday, 21st November 2014

West Ham United co-Chairman David Gold has called Wigan owner Dave Whelan's controversial statement regarding Jewish people as "a most unfortunate comment".

Whelan, responding to criticism of his decision to hire the disgraced Malky Mackay as replacement for Uwe Rosler - who was sacked earlier in the week - declared that "Jewish people chase money more than everybody else", when questioned about some of Mackay's recent unpalatable statements.

Whelan, who was part of the cabal that fought for West Ham to be relegated from the Premiership due to the Carlos Tevez affair was forced to retract his statement yesterday - and another about people of Chinese origin, who he referred to as 'Chinkys'.

However that didn't prevent Gold from hitting out at the 77-year-old. Speaking via Twitter, DG, himself of Jewish origin remarked: "I'm pleased to hear that Dave Whelan has apologised, it was a most unfortunate comment".

Septuagenarian Whelan is of course no stranger to controversy; after leading the witch-hunt to have West Ham demoted from the Premiership back in 2007, KUMB revealed how he had previously been fined £8million for illegal price fixing by the Office of Fair Trading.

In May 2013, Whelan's Wigan became the fourth club linked to the case against West Ham to be relegated from the top flight, following the demise of Middlesbrough, Charlton and Sheffield United - none of whom have managed to regain membership of the Premier League since.

Sheffield United have also featured regularly in the press recently following their decision to allow convicted rapist Ched Evans to train with the club - a decision that has led to the likes of Jessica Ennis-Hill and Paul Heaton retracting their support for the League One club.

Meanwhile the Hammers - currently fourth in the Premier League - continue to flourish.

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