Source: Daily_Mail
West Ham take legal action against Tottenham and the Sunday Times
ShareWest Ham made a robust defence against claims of financial misconduct in how they were awarded the Olympic Stadium. [LNB]The club are accused of making secret payments totalling ?20,400 to Dionne Knight, an executive on the body that chose West Ham over rivals Tottenham as the stadium's owners once the Games are over. [LNB]The money was paid into Knight's account before and after the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC), of which Knight was director of corporate services, came to their decision in February. [LNB] Controversy: West Ham have been angered by allegations about their conduct during the bidding process[LNB]The murky situation is muddied further by the fact that Knight, 34, is in a relationship with Ian Tompkins, a West Ham director involved in the bid who is alleged to haveset up the payments.[LNB]Despite the accusations, it is understood that the government are not looking to re-open the bidding and accept the OPLC's explanation that they ensured Knight played no part in the process once she told them about her relationship with Tompkins. [LNB]West Ham laid out their defence in letters sent by their lawyers to the Sunday Times, prior to the paper carrying the claims. [LNB]They say that Knight carried out 'procurement work' totally unrelated to the bidding procedure.[LNB]'As Ms Knight had no involvement in the bidding process, the fact that the work was undertaken iswholly irrelevant to the Olympic Stadium bid process and only raises issues of employment law,' the club said. [LNB] Aware: Karren Brady allegedly knew about the payments to the executive[LNB]'We would record that the work undertaken by Ms Knight for the London Stadium Partnership (of which West Ham are a part, along with Newham Council) is of a very substantialnature. The existence and quality of the work can be verified by at least two solicitors. [LNB]'The work was undertaken on a completely transparent basis and there was no reason for the LSP to believe that she was prohibited from doing it.' [LNB]Knight's transparency, however, did not extend to telling her employers that she was working for West Ham over and above her ?84,000 job. [LNB]She and Tompkins have been suspended while the OPLC and West Ham conduct their own investigations. [LNB] Future vision: Despite the ongoing legal battle, West Ham hope to occupy the Olympic Stadium from 2014[LNB]West Ham, angry the Sunday Timesdid not carry their defence more fully, confirmed they would begin legal action against the paper and Spurs, who hired the private investigator who discovered the payments were made to Knight. [LNB]The controversy offers a glimmer of hope to Spurs who lost out on the stadium to West Ham primarily because they refused to keep the athletics track as they seek a judicial review of the process.[LNB] Olympics minister Hugh Robertson will seek further information from all parties this week. [LNB]Newham Council stood by West Ham, saying: 'The Sunday Times story is riddled with inaccurate andmalicious allegations. Both West Ham and Newham had been assured that the procurement exercise had been fully authorised. Neither party has ever sought or received any advantageous information in regard to the stadium bid.'[LNB][LNB] West Ham director suspended in Olympic Stadium corruption probeOlympic Park Legacy employee suspended over links to Hammers stadium bidSpurs seek public funds to revamp White Hart Lane after Olympic Stadium snubTottenham go back to High Court in bid to force judicial review over Olympic Stadium [LNB] Explore more:People: Hugh Robertson Places: Olympic Stadium Organisations: Newham Council
