Sullivan and Gold are both lifelong West Ham fans

West Ham United David Gold and David Sullivan will not be returning to their former club Birmingham for Wednesday's Carling Cup semi-final second-leg.

The pair, together with West Ham's vice-chairman Karren Brady, will instead watch the tie on television.

Gold was banned from Birmingham earlier this season, but was cleared to attend the tie, which West Ham lead 2-1.

Sullivan said: "I don't want to offend anyone by not going but I can't face doing that journey back if we lose."

Gold and Sullivan took over at Upton Park last season after selling their stake in Birmingham to Carson Yeung - ending a 16-year reign at the Midlands club.

Gold was told he was not welcome at St Andrew's for the Premier League match between Birmingham and West Ham in November following newspaper comments he made about acting Blues chairman Peter Pannu.

But he was cleared to return for Wednesday's match after a subsequent apology.

Sullivan said: "If it wasn't on TV, we would all be there 100%. But I've done that long journey six or seven hundred times and I can't face getting back at 2am feeling depressed if we have lost.

"I'll be partying at home with my kids, like every West Ham United fan, if we go through."

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