If there’s anything that sums up the current state of West Ham United, it may just be this. David Sullivan’s Fiancee, Ampika Pickston, was at the centre of a heated social media back and forth with supporters following the Hammers latest Premier League defeat.

Before the Crystal Palace game, thousands of West Ham fans gathered in protest against the club’s ownership. The demonstration, led by Hammers United, underlined concerns from the fan base that the club’s future is in jeopardy under the leadership of David Sullivan and co.

Naturally, the 2-1 loss at home to Palace, West Ham’s fourth defeat from their first five games, has only deepened the unrest around the club.

After the game, Sullivan’s wife to be Pickston, added fuel to the fire by firing off a foul mouthed rant on X in defence of the Hammer’s majority shareholder. “He works his a** off and gives a s*** about the club. Spent a fortune on players and managers. There is no exact science to guarantee results.” said the 44 year old in a post on her account.

Pickston added: “Be careful of what you wish for.” A comment West Ham fans will have heard a thousand times over and something that will have no doubt landed badly among the frustrated Hammers faithful.

One disgruntled supporter took aim at Pickston on X, sparking a fiery exchange. “Who the f*** are you ?”  the reality TV star snapped back. She went on to argue that after decades in the game and heavy investment into the club, critics cannot truly grasp the pressures involved. She urged fans to “live in someone else’s shoes before commenting”.

The 44 year old also made clear that hiding behind a West Ham themed username did not excuse personal attacks.

Many Hammers fans feel a campaign of sustained pressure will be the only way to make the board take notice of their message.

Hammers United have vowed to keep up the pressure, they are calling for a boycott of the Brentford game at the end of October as well as continued demonstrations over the coming weeks and months. Only time will tell whether these efforts impact change at the top of the club. For many Hammers supporters though, the fight against the club’s hierarchy feels more urgent than ever.