West Ham chairman steps down

Eggert Magnusson has sold his stake in West Ham and stepped down as chairman.

The club's owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson has become club chairman as well as executive chairman and he has bought Magnusson's 5 per cent shareholding.

Magnusson was part of the Icelandic consortium that bought the Hammers a year ago in a deal worth £108 million with Gudmundsson, a banker and businessman, putting up most of the money.

Gudmundsson, who is investing a further £30.5 million in the club, said: "Eggert Magnusson has done a tremendous job as chairman, often in difficult circumstances, since our consortium bought the club 12 months ago.

"Eggert has decided to move on to new pastures and to pursue his other interests. We wish him well for the future and express our thanks for all that he has done for West Ham."

Magnusson admitted there had been tough challenges over the last year. The club was nearly relegated last season and the Carlos Tevez affair is still not completely over.

He said: "I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here at West Ham. From the moment that Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson and I formed the consortium to bid for the club, it has been an honour to be involved.

"Now that I have sold my financial stake in the club and I need to focus a little more on my interests overseas, I think it is the right time to stand down as chairman.

"The last 12 months have not been without their challenges but I feel that we have emerged stronger and fitter as a club."

© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.