WH Holding, the parent company which owns West Ham United Football Club (WHUFC), has appointed Shore Capital and Corporate as part of a bid to raise up to £40m for the club.

The London-based Premier League club was bought by the former owners of Birmingham City Football Club, David Gold and David Sullivan, in December 2009 and is now seeking to strengthen its balance sheet. WHUFC vice chair Karren Brady said: "Although this fundraising is initially aimed at professional investors, I would love to be able to bring in our loyal and fantastic fan base as investors further down the line so that they can share in the club's great future, on and off the pitch."

Meanwhile, administrators battling to safeguard the long-term future of Crystal Palace Football Club (CPFC) of the Coca-Cola Championship have revealed that the rent on its Selhurst Park stadium may be putting off potential buyers. Brendan Guilfoyle of P and A Partnership revealed that he would be seeking a short-term concession from the administrators of site landlord Rock Investment Holdings on the £1.2m annual loan agreement.