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Two pieces of separate news offer an glimpse of evolution in the battle for West Ham’s beleaguered boardroom after a torrid summer. As Claret and Hugh wrote earlier this morning, Amanda Staveley’s attempt to launch a bid for shares in the club does not appear to have been thwarted by Daniel Kretinsky’s manoeuvrings to hold onto the Gold shares: Staveley appears ready to pivot towards David Sullivan’s 38%. Separate from this, but just as relevant, comes an article this morning confirming that the Independent Football Regulator (IFR) – the largely unknown quantity in this saga, owing to their nascent status and therefore the unpredictability of their involvement – has now been in contact with the Police as part of their enquiries over the Sullivan allegations. As Matt Lawton in theTimes.com wrote last night: “Now, The Times understands, the regulator has been in touch with both Essex Police, which is investigating the claims made against Sullivan, and the FA as part of the new checks it can make under its new owners, directors and senior executives (ODSE) framework. A spokesperson for the independent football regulator (IFR) said: “The IFR’s enquiries into the suitability of David Sullivan under our ODSE regime are active and ongoing and we are in touch with relevant authorities as part of this process.” West Ham fans will wonder of the conflation of the two stories might make a sale at Staveley’s inflated price look more appealing to West Ham’s former Chairman. Given the choice, few West Ham fans would shed a tear at seeing the departure of their ex-chairman and a new era of Kretinsky – Staveley ownership. Whatever that may look like, however the two might work out ‘leadership’ between them or their financial backers, it could only offer progress West Ham United itself. David Sullivan denies all allegations made against him