Aldridge goes

  • by Matthew O'Greel
  • Friday, 1st December 2006

Managing director Paul Aldridge has left West Ham United by mutual consent.

Aldridge, who joined West Ham's board in 1996, becomes the first major casualty of the takeover by Eggert Magnusson's consortium.

Commenting on the Club's website, Aldridge said:

"It was a very difficult decision to decline the opportunity to join the new board of West Ham United under the Chairmanship of Mr Magnusson.

"Strangely, it is exactly 10 years to the day that I joined the Club permanently after a number of years as a consultant working on the new north and south stand.

"It has been a privilege to have been part of such a wonderful time in the Club's history. The good times have far outweighed the dark days. To be part of the team that gained promotion in Cardiff will be my happiest memory.

"Knowing that the Club would rejoin the Premier League and that the future of all the wonderful staff involved would be secure will remain with me always as my happiest moment.

"I wish Eggert and his new board the very best of luck, I am very confident that the Club is in very good hands and that the future for all involved in the club is extremely exciting.

"He is a very lucky man to be taking the helm of such a wonderful institution. The Club is in fantastic shape on and off the pitch and I am very proud to leave with West Ham United in such a strong position.

"I am really looking forward to getting re-acquainted with my family again, but of course will always look for our result first on a Saturday. I hope to stay involved in football but will certainly take a break before deciding what to do in the future."

The news comes as something as a surprise as it was only last week that WH Holding - the new owners of West Ham United - announced that Aldridge (along with Terry Brown and Nick Igoe) would remain employed by the club.

Scant consolation for departing your job with one of the biggest clubs in football maybe, but Aldridge will be around £225,000 the richer once Eggert Magnusson's takeover is complete thanks to the 55,000 shares he purchased in West Ham United during the last calendar year.

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