Everton Chief Executive Angus Kinnear may cost himself a return to West Ham United after making an official complaint to the Premier League.
Former Hammers managing director Angus Kinnear has worked at Leeds and now Everton since departing.
Kinnear is a controversial figure at West Ham after he joined in 2013 to help Karren Brady oversee the move to the London Stadium following previous experience working at Arsenal during their move from Highbury to the Emirates.
It is fair to say Kinnear’s reputation among Hammers fans is tainted especially as he is credited with changing the club’s crest to include the word ‘London’ against fan wishes.
Everton chief Kinnear puts old club West Ham in referee spotlight with complaint
Now Kinnear is risking the wrath of West Ham fans again after contacting the PGMO to raise concerns over the consistency of refereeing in Premier League following the Mateus Fernandes ‘no penalty’ call in Everton’s 2-1 loss to West Ham.
In doing so the Everton man may cost himself a West Ham return.
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Because a prominent Hammers insider claims the club is eyeing bringing Kinnear back to east London from Everton to replace Brady.
The Baroness made a hasty exit from the London Stadium last week ahead of the clash with Everton.
Everton chief Angus Kinnear has been linked with a return to West Ham
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So she was not in the director’s box with the likes of Kinnear to watch the Irons pick up a vital win over former manager David Moyes’ Toffees.
The Everton chief may have cost himself the chance of being in that London Stadium director’s box on a regular basis next season.
That’s after his complaint about West Ham not conceding a penalty which could have proved very costly in their fight to stay in the Premier League.
West Ham insider Sean Whetstone, who counts David Sullivan among his close contacts, has claimed Kinnear could be on the club’s radar to replace Brady.
That would already be a controversial appointment given Kinnear’s involvement in the stadium move and badge change.
Kinnear may cost himself West Ham return
Now his complaint to the Premier League’s Professional Game Match Officials is another black mark against his name with the Hammers.
Especially as supporters will fear it may influence how officials assess and referee West Ham incidents in the crucial final four games of the season.
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President David Sullivan of West Ham United FC looks on after the UEFA Europa Conference League 2022/23 final match between ACF Fiorentina and West Ham United FC at Eden Arena on June 7, 2023 in Prague, Czech Republic.
Fans would also point out Everton’s Jordan Pickford was extremely fortunate not to give away a penalty and receive a red card for a reckless challenge on Valentin Castellanos.
Whetstone has suggested Kinnear returning to West Ham could be on the cards because of the “modest” £562k salary he is on at Everton compared to the £1.5m Brady was collecting.
David Sullivan and Karren Brady attend a West Ham United game.
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“One name potentially in line to replace Karren Brady could be former Hammers managing director Angus Kinnear,” Whetstone reported.
“The former Arsenal marketing director joined West Ham in 2013 to oversee the move to the London Stadium after his experience with Arsenal moving from Highbury to the Emirates.
“While at Arsenal, he reportedly tried and failed to put the word London on the badge, a feat he managed at West Ham, where he is credited with the crest change.
“Kinnear left West Ham in 2017 to join Leeds United as Chief Executive, where his base salary was £522,000 but rose to £1.4m with bonuses. Angus moved again to join Everton last May as their Chief Executive.
“Everton’s accounts for last season show the highest-paid director, assumed to be Angus Kinnear, earned a salary of £562,000 per year, which is modest by Premier League standards, but he is likely to have some bonuses similar to the ones he enjoyed at Leeds.
“Karren Brady was paid £1.47m last season, and that is thought to have reached £1.5m this season, so West Ham could have the budget to financially incentivise Kinnear to come back to West Ham should they and he wish to do so.”
One name potentially in line to replace Karren Brady could be former Hammers managing director Angus Kinnear.
The former Arsenal marketing director joined West Ham in 2013 to oversee the move to the London Stadium after his experience with Arsenal moving from Highbury to the… pic.twitter.com/nneWkBUIEt
— West Ham Football (@westhamfootball) April 24, 2026
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Much will depend on who is in charge at West Ham this summer.
After Brady’s exit, Sullivan confirmed he and Daniel Kretinsky are increasing their West Ham stakes to over 40 per cent each.
One theory is that is in preparation of a sale to new owners.
On Sunday, it was claimed Amanda Staveley is putting together a ‘takeover team’ of US backers with eyes on West Ham.
Yesterday, Hammers News exclusively brought you West Ham’s response to the Staveley takeover claim which was emphatic and may not be what some fans want to hear.
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