Karren Brady stayed at West Ham despite knowing of Sullivan women's team ban
Key takeaways
- Baroness Brady, 57, who is best known for her role on BBC One's The Apprentice, has worked for Sullivan for the best part of four decades, including 16 years as vice-chair at West Ham.
- Her lawyers said she had "no knowledge" of the allegations made in a joint BBC Panorama and Times newspaper investigation published earlier this week.
- In correspondence from her lawyers to the BBC on Friday evening, she acknowledged that she was made aware that the Football Association had raised concerns about Sullivan when the FA contacted West Ham in July 2023.
Why this matters: a developing story that could shape the day's news cycle.
Billy Kenber,Investigations correspondent,Hannah Priceand Sophie Smith Getty Images Baroness Karren Brady was previously Birmingham City's managing director Former West Ham vice-chair Baroness Brady knew the club's co-owner David Sullivan was banned from contacting the women's and youth teams because of safeguarding concerns, but has defended continuing to work for him for three years, the BBC has learned.
Baroness Brady, 57, who is best known for her role on BBC One's The Apprentice, has worked for Sullivan for the best part of four decades, including 16 years as vice-chair at West Ham.
In her first response to a BBC Panorama and Times newspaper investigation which revealed that David Sullivan had been accused of sexually exploitative and predatory behaviour, lawyers for Baroness Brady said she stayed at West Ham because of the principle of a "presumption of innocence" and denied that it was hypocritical to remain there whilst also being a vocal supporter of women's rights.