• Premier League

Hammers' Olympic Stadium switch stalls

ESPN staff
October 10, 2012
The future of the Olympic Stadium remains undecided © PA Photos
Enlarge

A decision on whether West Ham can move into the Olympic Stadium in Stratford could be delayed, it was reported on Wednesday.

The Hammers want to leave their current Upton Park home and move into the nearby stadium in time for the beginning of the 2014-15 season.

The club's hierarchy and manager Sam Allardyce have said they believe the move would help establish the east Londoners among the Premier League's most powerful clubs.

But a Guardian report said there were still disagreements between the club and the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) over changes to the stadium, including the installation of retractable seating, and how costs of up to £160 million would be funded.

The LLDC chief executive Dennis Hone told the Guardian: "If we can't come to a conclusion... in the scheme of things, if it slips another month or two I would rather get the right solution.

"Yes, the stadium is tricky, but it's tricky because we want to get it right. I would hate to bung someone in there and see it fall apart in five years. If it takes a couple of extra months to get there, then so be it."

The Hammers are not the only bidders aiming to move into the centrepiece of the London 2012 Olympics, with offers from a group wanting to stage F1 racing, League One Leyton Orient and a football school also under consideration.

The £486 million stadium has already been earmarked for the athletics World Championships in 2017, and will be made available for community use.

Hone said the LLDC had held talks with all the bidders, but warned: "If it was a knockout [verdict] it would be an easy decision - but it's not."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Close

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices