Source: Daily_Mail
West Ham's bid to take over Olympic Stadium approved bt Government and London Mayor
[LNB]London mayor Boris Johnson has claimed that the decision to allow West Ham to take over the Olympic Stadium will prevent the venue becoming 'a dust bowl' staging occasional athletics events.[LNB]The Government and mayor today gave their approval to a recommendation by the Olympic Park Legacy Company that West Ham be chosen as the future stadium tenant ahead of Tottenham.[LNB]The original plan had been for the Olympic Stadium to be reduced to a 25,000 venue to be the home of British athletics.[LNB] Facing the future: A computer generated image of what a West Ham match might look like at the Olympic Stadium[LNB] [LNB]Johnson said the choice of West Hamwould secure the stadium's future - and the fact it will retain therunning track will ensure it remains a multi-sport venue.[LNB]'I am confident that West Ham willprovide a secure future for the stadium which also sees its iconicdesign for the London Games retained for future generations to admire,'said Johnson.[LNB]'Just two years ago it faced theprospect of becoming a dust bowl staging occasional athletics eventsbut now we can look forward to a fantastic multi-use venue at the heartof the community, able to host football and other sports, as well asconcerts and events specifically for local people and schools.'[LNB] London calling: West Ham co-owners David Gold and David Sullivan and vice-chairman Karren Brady will be preparing for life at the Olympic Stadium[LNB]Johnson also promised Tottenham that he would do all he could to help them move to a new stadium.He added: 'The extremely thorough process to select a preferred bidderfor the stadium attracted two outstanding proposals from two greatLondon football clubs.[LNB]'I would like to reassure TottenhamHotspur that we stand ready to support them with any plans they nowwant to take forward for their future stadium requirements.'[LNB]West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady was heavily involved in the club's bid and she was delighted to hear that the Hammers are now one step closer to being handed the keys to the stadium.[LNB]She said: 'I am pleased and proud the Mayor of London and Government have today endorsed the Olympic Park Legacy Company's recommendation that West Ham United and Newham Council be preferred bidder for the Olympic Stadium.[LNB]'I am grateful for their support and the clear recognition of the strengths of a financially strong, community-based bid that will do much for the regeneration of east London.[LNB]'At West Ham, we have been entrusted with a great responsibility and the OPLC's unanimous backing will only inspire us further to make good on our legacy promises. In many ways, the hard work starts now. The starting gun has been fired and we are off and running.[LNB]'This will be an Olympic Stadium to make everyone proud, a multi-sports, multi-event arena that will be both a spectacular local and global attraction. We will not let anyone down.'[LNB]The OPLC chose West Ham overTottenham on the basis that their bid was a better match for the fivecriteria laid down. One criteria was for the stadium to re-open asquickly as possible after the 2012 Games, and Tottenham's plan was todemolish it and rebuilt a football-only venue.[LNB] Approving the bid: London Mayor Boris Johnson[LNB]Local government minister Bob Neillconfirmed that he and sports/Olympics minister Hugh Robertson had bothapproved the recommendation.[LNB]Neill said: 'This completes thefirst stage of this process and means that the Olympic Park LegacyCompany are now able to enter into negotiations with the consortiumcomprising West Ham and the London Borough of Newham to agree a leasefor the Olympic Stadium site on terms that are acceptable to Governmentand the Mayor of London and provide value for money to the publicsector.[LNB]'We are delighted with the progressthat has been made and very pleased we have reached this verysignificant milestone in determining the long-term legacy for theOlympic Park following the Games.'[LNB]Leyton Orient chairman Barry Hearn insisted the approval puts his club 'out of business.'[LNB]He told talkSPORT: 'It's savage news, very disappointing. No one, in or outside the government, has asked one single question about how this will affect Leyton Orient. The news that they've rubber stamped it without asking anything is staggering to me.[LNB]'I don't think that the due processhas been followed. There is a Premier League rule and a football leaguerule in black and white, which says quite clearly that they will not asanction the move of a club nearer to another club if it has an adverseeffect on the resident club. I think this puts us out of business.'[LNB]Hearnadded that he would seriously consider legal action. He said: 'We haveto take legal action. We have to defend ourselves. I've got to considerboth judicial review and legal action against the Premier League. We'vegot the top judicial review lawyers in the country and if theyrecommend a judicial review then we have no choice.'[LNB] Disappointed: Leyton Orient chairman Barry Hearn[LNB]The Premier League released a statement saying they previously had communications with Hearn about the issue and that he had told them he had favoured a rival bid for the stadium by Tottenham.[LNB]The statement said: 'The board came to the decision that on balance it would be unreasonable to prevent either Tottenham Hotspur or West Ham United from moving to the Olympic Site as long as they satisfied all of the relevant criteria stipulated by appropriate Olympic and statutory authorities.[LNB]'With particular reference to Leyton Orient, full consideration was given to a letter written by its chairman, Barry Hearn, to the Premier League prior to the board meeting at which the decision was taken.'[LNB]The letter outlined Hearn's preference for Tottenham, said the statement, and that he had enclosed a copy of a separate letter written to Spurs chairman in which he wished him 'all success for the prospective move.'[LNB]'It is regrettable that Mr Hearn is now claiming that Leyton Orient had no input into the board's decision making process when their views, as expressed in writing at the time by Mr Hearn, were given due consideration. Clearly the position currently being articulated by Mr. Hearn in the media is at odds with his original submission.[LNB]'There is absolutely no question of the board's decision being reviewed.'[LNB] [LNB] See you in court! Leyton Orient threaten legal action over West Ham moveWest Ham looking for new investment after Olympic Stadium triumph[LNB] [LNB] Explore more:People: Hugh Robertson, Boris Johnson, Karren Brady, Barry Hearn Places: London, Olympic Stadium
