West Ham relegated to Championship despite emphatic victory over toothless Leeds

As the minutes ticked away and the trap door widened, the home crowd wanted everyone to know who they blame for West Ham’s relegation. They were united in their disdain for David Sullivan, the club’s shortsighted owner, and spent the final moments of a dreadful season showering him with abuse.

Sullivan watched from the directors’ box, perhaps contemplating how it has come to this point, but the answer is his refusal to relinquish power. This is his mess. West Ham have dropped into the Championship for the first time since 2012, a 3-0 victory over Leeds on the final day not enough to lift them out of the bottom three at Tottenham’s expense, and as the club’s largest shareholder and most influential individual it is Sullivan who must accept much of the blame.