Sullivan Set to Attend Palace Clash Despite Fan Protests

West Ham face Crystal Palace at the London Stadium this weekend in what already feels like a pivotal afternoon in East London. The clash comes against a backdrop of growing supporter unrest, with organised protests planned outside the ground before kick-off.

On the pitch, Graham Potter’s side know they can’t afford another flat display, with pressure mounting to deliver a statement performance and get the season back on track.

David Sullivan Plans To Be In The Stands On Saturday

West Ham United chairman David Sullivan is reportedly prepared to face angry supporters at the London Stadium on Saturday, despite large-scale protests being organised ahead of the clash with Crystal Palace.

Fan group Hammers United are leading the demonstrations, branding the campaign “No More BS” in direct reference to Sullivan and vice-chair Karren Brady. Their aim is clear: to force both out of the club. The group has vowed to continue staging protests before every home fixture until their demands are met.

Saturday’s protest is expected to draw a significant turnout, with early estimates suggesting around 3-4,000 fans will gather outside the stadium before kick-off.

While there is no confirmation yet on whether Brady will attend the game too, the Daily Mail has revealed that Sullivan intends to take his seat regardless. The 76-year-old believes he has every right to watch the team he owns, even while acknowledging supporters’ right to voice their discontent.

At the heart of the anger is the London Stadium itself. Many fans feel promises made when West Ham left Upton Park were never delivered upon, leaving them with a ground they see as soulless and unfit for purpose. The result is a growing movement of disillusioned supporters determined to make their frustration heard.

Under Pressure Potter

Beyond the protests, there’s also a huge amount riding on the pitch. West Ham’s form has been patchy, and manager Graham Potter knows he desperately needs a result to quieten the noise around the club.

Crystal Palace are on their longest unbeaten run ever in the Premier League and have not lost at the London Stadium since 2019, and another poor showing from the Hammers would only turn up the volume on the unrest. Potter is still searching for consistency, with performances too often disjointed and the attacking threat far too blunt.

Defeat on Saturday would not only add fuel to the protests against the board, but also increase scrutiny on the manager himself. Fans are losing patience. For Sullivan, Brady and Potter, the clash with Palace could hardly carry higher stakes.