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Redknapp critical of Hammers' stadium win

Harry Redknapp believes West Ham will be a poorer club for the loss of Upton Park © Getty Images

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Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has warned West Ham that they could stand to lose far more than they gain from the occupation of the Olympic Stadium.

The Hammers were named 'preferred bidders' for the stadium ahead of rivals Spurs after a unanimous decision from the Olympic Park Legacy Committee on Friday and Redknapp, while wishing the club the best of luck in their venture, believes persistent concerns over the athletics track that will surround the pitch still makes it an unsatisfactory decision.

"Good luck to them if that's what the fans want [but] I wouldn't want to watch football matches with a track around it," Redknapp said. "That's my view and I don't think most people would. I would've thought those days were gone. I wouldn't want to watch a match with an athletics track around it. There is no atmosphere.

"I wouldn't want to watch football while sitting miles away from the pitch in a stadium that holds 60,000 people that is half full - that wouldn't appeal to me at all."

Redknapp also believes that the club will lose a little of its mystique if it says goodbye to its current Boleyn Ground - its spiritual home, and where Redknapp patrolled the touchline for a number of years.

"As a person who knows what West Ham fans are like, not many places could beat Upton Park on a good day when the crowd were in full flow singing [I'm Forever Blowing] Bubbles and swaying as they used to back in the old days," he said.

"They will miss that for sure but if it's what they need to do and feel that it is the right move and it takes the club forward then good luck to them."

Redknapp maintains Spurs cannot let this set-back scupper the club's plans for a new, or at least improved, home.

"We need a new 60,000 seater stadium because we haven't got room to accommodate all the people that want to come and watch us every week," he said.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.