There were fresh problems for United owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson yesterday when Hansa, West Ham's holding company filed for administration.
The Icelandic company are the latest of Gudmundsson's assets to fall in the wake of the wolrdwide banking collapse that has cost West Ham's owner the vast majority of his personal fortune.However suggestions that Hansa's demise would lead to problems for the Hammers were quickly dismissed by Gudmundsson's mouthpiece, vice-Chairman Asgeir Fridgeirsson.
"The issue has developed further," he said. "But we believe there are plenty of assets in the company [Hansa] to take care of all of the debt. It is likely that the company will be functioning.
"One of the main assets is West Ham – he [Gudmundsson] is still reviewing his options regarding his assets. This development is limiting his options, but it is not affecting the operation of West Ham. There is no debt within West Ham from Hansa or vice-versa.
"There is no money going from the club to the owner. It is fire-walled. The operation will go on – it is unaffected by this development."
Despite Fridgeirsson's calls for calm rumours regarding a quick sale of the club persist. A recent poll of supporters here on KUMB.com saw more than 9 in 10 give a vote of no confidence in Gudmundsson and his board.
United CEO Scott Duxbury was recently likened to former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein's minister of Information, Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf (aka Comical Ali) for his continued insistence that all is well behind the scenes.
Duxbury as Chemical Ali
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