Chairmen and owners have come under increasing scrutiny of late, when it comes to the running of football clubs.

Portsmouth seem to be a daily hot news topic, for all the wrong reasons, with the club becoming somewhat of a laughing stock in the footballing world.

However, it is perhaps unfamiliar to see owners being a little too honest when it comes to a clubs finances and general outlook. Indeed, what Portsmouth fans would give for the slightest insight into the ongoing saga at Fratton Park. Maybe they could have done with David Gold and Sullivan buying into their stricken club?

Since the former Birmingham City co-owners have thrown the Irons a financial lifeline, they seem to revel a little in the media spotlight – much to the seeming irritation of manager Gianfranco Zola.

Gold and Sullivan have certainly unravelled the depths of West Ham United’s financial woes, and have had no qualms about revealing the deteriorating state that the club were, and reportedly still are in.

It is a smart move in a certain sense. Hammers fans will be under no illusions that a fresh takeover equals a war chest in the transfer market, something which became abundantly clear in the last window, with the addition of free agent Mido – on a slashed wage of just £1,000 a week. The Egyptian international stated his desire to play in the Premier League as the primary reason for signing.

Sullivan has had a lot to say of late

However, there is being openly and publicly honest, and then there is airing you dirty linen. Zola and his squad were under no false impressions at the magnitude of the task ahead of them for the remainder of the campaign. Staying up was the number one priority following the disastrous start made by the Hammers and Zola needed no further reminder of how vital this was.

Sullivan appears to be the main orchestra behind the media whirlwind at Upton Park, and it is clear to see why certain corners of the playing and management staff may have been a little irritated by recent comments attributed to the former Birmingham City owner: “It’ll be Armageddon if we go down. It’ll be worse than what’s gone on at Newcastle.”

A key ingredient to avoiding the drop is team solidarity, a showing that each individual is going roll their sleeves up and throw everything at the cause to keep the club in the top flight. Aren’t players far more likely to be up for the scrap, if everyone at the establishment are pulling in the same direction. Sullivan clearly finds it hard to justify the current wage structure, hinting that the players may well be overpaid: “I can’t believe the contracts I have inherited. Every position is overpaid, whether in administration or on the playing side. Everyone at the club will be asked to take a salary cut in the summer.”

Who, exactly, is going to benefit from these public outbursts other than the owners themselves, who appear to be simply covering themselves, in the occurrence that the club does indeed suffer relegation?

If West Ham United are condemned to Championship football next season, Sullivan and Gold will have the consolidation of ‘we told you it was going to be bad’, if the situation does deteriorate.

This isn’t the David Sullivan show, much as his recent actions would suggest. There is a football club there, at the heart of the situation, something which the supporters of West Ham care far much more about than the owners. The club was there before the former Birmingham City owners took the financial reigns, and will hopefully be there long after.

Hammers supporters would be far more appreciative if the owners prioritised in keeping the club afloat, without releasing detrimental statements while the playing staff are focusing on just that – playing.

To put the situation into perspective, as financial woes are pretty unlikely at a local 5-a-side soccer league, imagine someone suddenly rocking up at your 6-a-side football team, and mouthing off, stating “he’s not good enough, he shouldn’t be given the ball that much.” Everyone’s probably experienced it, and if you haven’t then you have a pretty tight knit side. For those who have, it doesn’t help, its irritating, and can really upset the applecart.

Hammers need  togetherness if they are to avoid the trap door to the Championship

The comments made were enough for Zola to retaliate and counter, by stating: “I think the article should have been done at another time. It would have been better to say that at another time, and maybe speak to us before a newspaper.”

What could be more disadvantageous to the cause than management and owners have a public slanging match? Fans appreciate honesty, but surely they would be more in favour of supporting a Premier League outfit come what August?

For the sake of West Ham, let’s hope that Sullivan can remain muted in regards to the financial situation of the club, and the worth of the current crop of players - concentrating his efforts on some positive PR which will prove constructive to avoiding demotion.

Alex Z