| Martin Cearns | |
| Birth Date: | April 1945 |
| Death Date: | May 2024 (aged 79) |
| Occupation: | Chairman, West Ham United |
Martin William Cearns (April 1945 – May 2024) was an English football executive who was chairman of West Ham United.
Cearns was born in April 1945.[1] A bank manager with Barclays Bank, Cearns became a board member with West Ham taking over the chairmanship in 1990 from his father, Len Cearns. He held the position until 1992 when it was taken over by Terry Brown.[2] Although no longer chairman, Cearns remained on the board until 1 December 2006 when he resigned when the club was sold to Icelandic billionaire, Björgólfur Guðmundsson for £85 million.[3] [4] [5] As part of the takeover he made £7.76 million from the sale of his 1,844,000 shares in West Ham.[6]
Cearns' time at West Ham is remembered for his advocacy, with Peter Storrie, of the Hammers Bond scheme, a financial bond which West Ham fans would have been forced to buy before being allowed to purchase a season ticket. The proposal led to demonstrations both inside and outside West Ham's ground and to pitch invasions.[1] [7] [8]
West Ham announced Cearns' death on 7 May 2024, at the age of 79.[9]