 In the 2009 – 10 season , West Ham started strongly with a 2 – 0 win over newly promoted Wolverhampton Wanderers with goals from Mark Noble and newly appointed captain Matthew Upson . A League Cup match against old rivals Millwall brought about violent riots outside the ground as well as pitch invasions and crowd trouble inside Upton Park . In August 2009 , the financial concerns of Icelandic owners parent companies left the current owners unable to provide any funds until a new owner was found . The club 's shirt sponsor SBOBET provided the club with help purchase a much needed striker , the Italian Alessandro Diamanti . 
