Essex Police have confirmed they are actively pursuing new lines of enquiry after receiving fresh information connected to West Ham co-owner David Sullivan.
The force confirmed there had been “some contact and enquiries into those are now under way” following a joint investigation published by BBC Panorama and The Times earlier this week.
That investigation revealed multiple women have accused Sullivan of sexually exploitative and predatory behaviour allegedly dating back to the 1980s, which Sullivan has categorically denied.
Eight women, including one who was directly involved in the investigation, have already approached police with disclosures about Sullivan’s conduct, though none of those cases have resulted in charges.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy held urgent fact-finding meetings with both the Football Association and West Ham after it emerged Sullivan had been banned from contacting the women’s and youth teams over safeguarding concerns.
Sullivan had been operating under those restrictions for three years after a historic allegation about his conduct was raised with the FA in 2023, yet the arrangement remained undisclosed to the public.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Sullivan said he had never met any academy or women’s team players “1-2-1” during his 16 years at the club.
Sullivan insisted the complaint “had nothing to do about my time in football and it never happened”, adding: “I saw it as a meaningless restriction, as it didn’t impact on my work in any way, therefore I accepted it for a quiet life.”
He also pushed back on the characterisation of the agreement, saying it was inaccurate to describe it as a “disciplinary ‘ban'”.
Nandy responded firmly, calling for a “full and urgent explanation” of how the “incredibly serious allegations” surrounding Sullivan had been handled by football’s governing bodies.
West Ham is understood to have made clear during its meeting with Nandy that it was confident in its “robust safeguarding measures” throughout the period in question.
Sponsor Boyle Sports confirmed it had not been made aware of the restrictions placed on Sullivan, and said it was “extremely concerned at the serious nature of the allegations levelled against David Sullivan.”
The company added: “It is our understanding that the Independent Football Regulator is reviewing this matter urgently and we wholeheartedly support their efforts in doing so.”
Sullivan, 77, resigned as joint chairman of West Ham on Saturday, a position he had held for 16 years, saying he wished to focus on fighting what he described as “factually incorrect and entirely false, decades-old allegations concerning my personal life.”
In that resignation statement, Sullivan said: “After a lifetime spent building businesses in the adult industry in which I have met thousands of women, it is sadly inevitable that a small number of improper conduct claims are being made against me.”
