Martin Cearns | |
---|---|
Born | April 1945 |
Died | 2024 |
Occupation(s) | Chairman, West Ham United |
Martin William Cearns (April 1945 – 2024)[1] was a former chairman of English football club West Ham United.
A bank manager with Barclays Bank, Cearns became a board member with West Ham taking over the chairmanship in 1990 from his father, Len Cearns. He held the position until 1992 when it was taken over by Terry Brown.[2] Although no longer chairman, Cearns remained on the board until 1 December 2006 when he resigned when the club was sold to Icelandic billionaire, Björgólfur Guðmundsson for £85m.[3][4][5] As part of the takeover he made £7.76m from the sale of his 1,844,000 shares in West Ham.[6] Cearns' time at West Ham is remembered for his advocacy, with Peter Storrie, of the Hammers Bond scheme, a financial bond which West Ham fans would have been forced to buy before being allowed to purchase a season ticket. The proposal led to demonstrations both inside and outside West Ham's ground and to pitch invasions.[1][7][8]
West Ham announced Cearns' death on 7 May 2024, aged 79.[9]