Baroness Karren Brady, a prominent figure in British business and media, continued in her role as West Ham United's vice-chair for three years despite knowing that co-owner David Sullivan was subject to restrictions concerning contact with the club's women's and youth teams. These restrictions were imposed due to safeguarding concerns raised by the Football Association (FA).
The FA contacted West Ham in July 2023 following a complaint about a historic allegation against Sullivan dating back to the 1980s. While Brady's lawyers confirmed she was made aware of these concerns, they stated she was not involved in the decision-making process to impose the restrictions, which was a collaborative effort between West Ham, the local authority, and the FA. Her role, according to her legal representatives, was to ensure the club's established safeguarding procedures were followed.
Brady, who worked with Sullivan for nearly four decades across various ventures, including at Birmingham City before their acquisition of West Ham in 2010, defended her decision to remain at the club. Her lawyers cited the principle of 'presumption of innocence,' stating that Sullivan consistently denied the allegations. They also dismissed any suggestion of hypocrisy between her continued employment and her vocal support for women's rights, asserting that respecting a confidential safeguarding investigation was consistent with her advocacy.
The revelations come after a joint BBC Panorama and Times newspaper investigation earlier this week detailed allegations of sexually exploitative and predatory behaviour against David Sullivan, which he has categorically denied. Baroness Brady's lawyers stated she had no prior knowledge of these specific allegations and was not involved in or witnessed any of the alleged incidents.
Baroness Brady, also known for her role on BBC One's The Apprentice and as a member of the House of Lords since 2014, abruptly stepped down from her position at West Ham in April this year, five games before the end of the season. At the time of her departure, she issued a statement expressing it had been a 'privilege' to work with the club.
Source: BBC