Frank Lampard sympathises with West Ham fans as he admits club have ‘gone backwards’

WEST HAM’S latest home fixture may have created a toxic atmosphere and descended into chaos, but Frank Lampard sympathised with some of the frustrated fans.

The ex-Hammer did not shy away from calling the fans aggressive, but did offer his thoughts as to what was the catalyst to the ugly scenes that unfolded.

Lampard, who left the side in 2001, claimed  the club had gone backwards since the move across east London, he said: “I understand the fans feelings in general.

“They feel like they’ve lost an identity in moving stadium.

“Part of that deal in moving was to fight for Europe and invest- the club has a £29 million net spend, it’s not enough- they have gone backwards.”

IRON IT OUT West Ham called emergency meeting after ugly scenes during defeat to Burnley

The disgruntled fans took matters into their own hands as the Hammers went down 1-0 to Burnley with some invading the pitch and surrounded the directors’ box with a pact mentality.

The scenes turned uglier as West Ham fell further behind Sean Dyche’s side- with fans storming the pitch and others surrounding the directors’ box and hurling abuse at the two owners David Sullivan and David Gold.

As fans ran riot at the London stadium, the co-owners were asked to leave the box for their safety, as coins were thrown in their direction and cries of ‘sack the board’ rang around the stadium.

Lampard noted that the atmosphere within the ground was ‘toxic’ and said: “It was a horrible feeling in the second half, in particular.”

As the scenes turned uglier one fan had to be stopped by Hammers’ captain Mark Noble.

Lampard expressed sympathy with the 30-year-old leader.

Speaking on Match of the Day after the game, he said: “Fans coming onto the pitch, I understand Mark Noble’s position. He is Mr West Ham.

“He cares and that is why he reacted in that way.”

The game got so bad, that referee Lee Mason even consulted David Moyes and Sean Dyche over abandoning the game.