West Ham owners pour scorn on Fernandes' offer

TONY FERNANDES has hit back at West Ham owners David Sullivan and David Gold after his bid to buy the club was criticised.

Fernandes, the Malaysian businessman behind AirAsia and the Lotus Formula One team, announced yesterday he had submitted an offer for the club he supports. But Sullivan said: "Tony Fernandes wanted to buy 51 per cent of the club for two bob."

Fernandes, though, fired back with a series of messages on Twitter. "Make up your mind, Sullivan and Gold. One minute you say no offer then you say it's a joke offer. It was a good offer with good money and brought in good people."

Three follow-up messages said: "Gold and Sullivan can say whatever they want. I have been a lifelong fan and would have brought good money, good ideas, new people and a new belief. As for PR stunts. Wow. They are always in the press making huge claims. Were we not supposed to be in Europe. Now we have been relegated. Two sacked managers. All good players will be sold. No new training ground which is the most important ingredient I feel. Look at how many injuries we have."

Sullivan had said yesterday: "He thinks somehow that we are desperate to have him involved or desperate for the small amount of money he offered for 51 per cent of the club."

Fernandes first expressed an interest in taking over West Ham in 2009 but he lost out on that occasion to Sullivan and his business partner Gold.