Fernandes open to West Ham investment 21/01/2010
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Air Asia boss Tony Fernandes said he would consider investing in West Ham as long as new owners David Sullivan and David Gold share his vision for the club.
The former Birmingham co-owners bought a controlling 50 per cent stake in the East London club this week with the option to buy the rest from Icelandic bank Straumur. They said they would look for further investors and made it clear they would approach West Ham fan Fernandes, who was also linked with a takeover bid.
"I would have to see whether they share the same vision, otherwise it could be a calamity for the club," Fernandes told the Daily Telegraph.
"You can only have one leader, one strategy. But I'm never one to say no to anything, especially as I'm very passionate about the club.
"On the positive side, the club has a new owner and it has ended the uncertainty."
Meanwhile, former West Ham chairman Eggert Magnusson, blamed by many for the club's financial problems, insists he was not at fault.
"There was much criticism about wages when we signed [Freddie] Ljungberg, Matthew Upson, Lucas Neill, Craig Bellamy and Scott Parker,” he told The Sun.
“Does anyone honestly think I did that on my own? That I did it without the full knowledge and support of the owner, the chief executive and the manager Alan Curbishley? Of course not.
"And people have quickly forgotten we managed to maintain our Premier League status in that first year – and that was a miracle. Things could have got a lot worse had the club dropped into the Championship.
"Most of it was down to the manager and the team but I like to think I played some part in it, giving the club belief. I was always positive and we never gave up.
"And everybody was aware of the deals we were doing, it wasn't just down to me.
"If people are blaming me, so be it. But I know better and am still proud of my time at West Ham United.
"Maybe I wasn't told the right things about the club when I went there.
"Maybe I was led to believe there was more money available than there was. I was told that there was a lot of money to do things."
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