David Sullivan could be forced to sell his West Ham stake in wake of new Independent Football Regulator rules – amid claims against co-owner, 77, of abusing and preying on teenage girls for sex in BBC Panorama documentary

David Sullivan could be forced to sell his stake in West Ham United after he was accused of preying on women for sex.

The 77-year-old former porn baron resigned as Hammers vice-chair on Saturday ahead of the reporting of serious historic allegations. 

On Monday, it emerged that those claims included accusations that he requested sexual favours from multiple aspiring young models in exchange for giving them work.

Sullivan, who denies any wrongdoing, remains the largest shareholder at the London Stadium with a stake of 38.8 per cent.

Since December, new watchdog the Independent Football Regulator has had the power to force unsuitable owners to sell a club. 

On Monday night, it described the allegations as ‘extremely serious’ and said it would ‘seek urgent information’ from Sullivan.

The IFR’s Owners and Directors test can go further than those used by the Premier League and EFL, with forced sales included as a last resort.

Indeed, the watchdog has previously said it will be able to ‘assess the honesty, integrity and financial soundness of those who want to own or run a football club, ensuring they have the necessary skills and experience to do so’.

Should they find that Sullivan does not meet that criteria they can act. 

A spokesperson for the IFR said: ‘These are extremely serious allegations. We are in contact with West Ham on this matter and will use our statutory powers to seek urgent information from David Sullivan relating to his suitability under our Owners, Directors and Senior Executives regime. We are unable to comment further at this stage.’

Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky holds a 27 per cent stake in West Ham and it remains to be seen if he has the appetite to increase that share.

Last season anti-Sullivan chants were heard at nearly all Hammers matches amid a broken relationship between the club’s board and its supporters. 

He initially bought a 50 per cent share with late business partner David Gold in January 2010. Sullivan’s right-hand woman, Karren Brady, quit the club in April.

In his resignation statement, Sullivan said: ‘I have recently become aware that factually incorrect and entirely false, decades-old allegations concerning my personal life are due to be broadcast and published.

Sullivan stepped down from his post at West Ham over the weekend after learning the investigation would be published 

‘The false allegations levelled against me have been sensationalised by the media. 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.

‘I categorically deny these claims.

‘I am a private man, and those who personally and professionally know the real David Sullivan, not the caricature invented by the tabloids, know exactly who I am and what I stand for. I am absolutely not the person the media has decided to paint me as.

‘I have not been provided with any proper explanation as to how these individuals or their claims were independently verified or assessed for credibility prior to publication. I believe that the entire process has been fundamentally unfair and completely lacking in any due impartiality.

‘I will be suing the BBC for libel, along with any other media outlet that repeats any libelous allegations.’