WHUFC.com
The club have issued a joint statement with Newham Council regarding the
Olympic Stadium
11.10.2011
Karren Brady, Vice-Chairman of West Ham United, and Kim Bromley-Derry, Chief
Executive of the London Borough of Newham said: "We understand Ministers
will make a statement later and will not pre-empt that. Uncertainty caused
by the anonymous complaint to the European Commission and ongoing legal
challenges have put the Olympic legacy at risk and certainly a stadium, as
we envisioned it, may not be in place by 2014 due as a direct result of the
legal delay. "Therefore we would welcome a move by OPLC and government to
end that uncertainty and allow a football and athletics stadium to be in
place by 2014 under a new process. If the speculation is true, West Ham will
look to become a tenant of the stadium while Newham will aim to help deliver
the legacy. "Our bid is the only one that will secure the sporting and
community legacy promise of the Olympic Stadium - an amazing year-round home
for football, athletics and community events of which the nation could be
proud. "The true legacy of London 2012 will be the creation of jobs and a
generation of young people inspired by sport based around a community home
for all by 2014. We remain committed to help deliver that legacy promise to
the people of London and the nation."
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OS move collapses
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 11th October 2011
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United's planned move to the Olympic Stadium is said to have fallen
through. According to a report by the BBC's David Bond, the move is said to
have collapsed after the OPLC, the Government and Mayor of London, Boris
Johnson, unanimously agreed that the stadium should remain under 'public
ownership' after next summer's games. As a result, companies wishing to
lease the stadium must now re-apply - including West Ham United, who were
awarded sole use of the stadium back in February - with the winning bidders
forced to re-apply for tenancy on an annual basis. The OPLC are said to have
changed their mind over the plans for the stadium as a result of the ongoing
legal action conducted by Tottenham Hotspur FC and Leyton Orient FC.
Concerns over Newham Council's proposed £40million loan to West Ham - which
Spurs' lawyers claimed was effectively 'state aid' - are said to be pivotal
in the decision. As a result of the decision, next week's planned judicial
review is likely to be cancelled. West Ham are yet to comment on these
latest developments, but will no doubt be furious at the latest turn of
events - especially having invested so much time and funds into their bid.
It is unclear at this point whether the club will be entitled to any
compensation for the losses incurred as a result of this decision.
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Brady: we'll be tenants, not owners
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 11th October 2011
By: Staff Writer
West Ham have made a statement in reaction to the decision by the OPLC to
renege on the decision to award the club use of the Olympic Stadium. Karren
Brady, speaking on behalf of the club's board on whufc.com this morning
refused to comment on this morning's speculation suggesting that the club
will no longer be considered for permanent tenancy of the stadium.
However she did confirm that should it be true, the club will still seek to
move to the stadium as tenants who will be forced to re-apply for that
tenancy on an annual basis. "We understand Ministers will make a statement
later and will not pre-empt that," said West Ham United's vice-chair.
"Uncertainty caused by the anonymous complaint to the European Commission
and ongoing legal challenges have put the Olympic legacy at risk and
certainly a stadium, as we envisioned it, may not be in place by 2014 due as
a direct result of the legal delay. "Therefore we would welcome a move by
OPLC and government to end that uncertainty and allow a football and
athletics stadium to be in place by 2014 under a new process. If the
speculation is true, West Ham will look to become a tenant of the stadium
while Newham will aim to help deliver the legacy. "Our bid is the only one
that will secure the sporting and community legacy promise of the Olympic
Stadium - an amazing year-round home for football, athletics and community
events of which the nation could be proud."
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West Ham still want stadium
Hammers happy to rent new home
By Graeme Bailey - Tweet me: @skygraemebailey. Last Updated:
October 11, 2011 9:10am
SSN
West Ham United have confirmed that they will look to lease the Olympic
Stadium after the deal to award them the stadium was called off. The Olympic
Park Legacy Company will confirm on Tuesday that talks have been called off
with West Ham - their preffered bidder, following legal action brought by
Tottenham and Leyton Orient. Now the OPLC has confirmed that the stadium
will instead remain in public hands, and they will now look to find a
permanent tenant instead. The OPLC will also now foot the bill to convert
the stadium from an 80,000 seater to a 60,000 arena. The announcement to
keep the stadium within the control of the OPLC will also guarantee a
running track will remain in place. West Ham have now confirmed that if, as
expected, the OPLC confirm the sale of the stadium is no longer an option,
they would be happy to rent the venue.
Statement
In a statement released by West Ham in conjunction with Newham Council, who
have backed the Hammers' proposed move, the club confirm that they are happy
to lease the venue. Karren Brady, vice-chairman of West Ham United, and Kim
Bromley-Derry, chief executive of the London Borough of Newham said: "We
understand Ministers will make a statement later and will not pre-empt that.
"Uncertainty caused by the anonymous complaint to the European Commission
and ongoing legal challenges have put the Olympic legacy at risk and
certainly a stadium, as we envisioned it, may not be in place by 2014 due as
a direct result of the legal delay. Therefore we would welcome a move by
OPLC and government to end that uncertainty and allow a football and
athletics stadium to be in place by 2014 under a new process. If the
speculation is true, West Ham will look to become a tenant of the stadium
while Newham will aim to help deliver the legacy. "Our bid is the only one
that will secure the sporting and community legacy promise of the Olympic
Stadium - an amazing year-round home for football, athletics and community
events of which the nation could be proud. "The true legacy of London 2012
will be the creation of jobs and a generation of young people inspired by
sport based around a community home for all by 2014. We remain committed to
help deliver that legacy promise to the people of London and the nation."
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West Ham set for tenancy bid if Olympic Stadium purchase fails
Published: Today
The Sun
WEST HAM will bid to become tenants at the Olympic Stadium if their move to
buy it collapses. The Olympic Park Legacy Company are expected to confirm
later today that they have pulled the plug on the Hammers' proposed purchase
of the London 2012 venue. But the latest development does not open the door
for Tottenham to automatically pip their London rivals in the battle for the
site. The stadium is no longer for sale and will be made available for
rental after the Olympic Games next summer — complete with permanent running
track. And the Hammers are determined to win the right to call the ground
their new home when a new bidding process for tenants open in January. A
joint statement by West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady and Newham Council
chief executive Kim Bromley-Derry said: "We understand Ministers will make a
statement later and will not pre-empt that. "Uncertainty caused by the
anonymous complaint to the European Commission and ongoing legal challenges
have put the Olympic legacy at risk. "Certainly a stadium, as we envisioned
it, may not be in place by 2014 due as a direct result of the legal delay.
"Therefore we would welcome a move by the OPLC and Government to end that
uncertainty and allow a football and athletics stadium to be in place by
2014 under a new process. "If the speculation is true, West Ham will look to
become tenants of the stadium while Newham will aim to help deliver the
legacy. "Our bid is the only one that will secure the sporting and community
legacy promise of the Olympic Stadium — an amazing year-round home for
football, athletics and community events of which the nation could be proud.
"The true legacy of London 2012 will be the creation of jobs and a
generation of young people inspired by sport based around a community home
for all by 2014. "We remain committed to help deliver that legacy promise to
the people of London and the nation." UK Athletics chairman Ed Warner
welcomed the move to safeguard the future of the stadium's running track.
Warner said: "It's fantastic for UK Athletics and it is a bold and decisive
move by the legacy company."
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David Bentley to have surgery for knee injury
Published: Today
The Sun
DAVID BENTLEY'S bid to resurrect his career at West Ham has been scuppered
by a knee injury. The 27-year-old on-loan winger will have surgery today and
has already been sent back to Tottenham. He was supposed to be at the
Hammers on a season-long loan after joining on the last day of the summer
transfer window but the deal looks in jeopardy.
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Olympic Stadium: West Ham still want to move in after 2012
London 24
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
9:38 AM
West Ham have announced that they will look to be a tenant at the Olympic
Stadium in east London should the Olympic Park Legacy Company reopen the
tender process for the site. A joint statement by Karren Brady, West Ham
vice-chairman, and Kim Bromley-Derry, Newham chief executive, said they
welcomed the move and would bid again to become tenants of the stadium. The
statement said: "We understand ministers will make a statement later and
will not pre-empt that. "Uncertainty caused by the anonymous complaint to
the European Commission and ongoing legal challenges have put the Olympic
legacy at risk and certainly a stadium, as we envisioned it, may not be in
place by 2014 due as a direct result of the legal delay. Therefore we would
welcome a move by OPLC and government to end that uncertainty and allow a
football and athletics stadium to be in place by 2014 under a new process.
"If the speculation is true, West Ham will look to become a tenant of the
stadium while Newham will aim to help deliver the legacy. "Our bid is the
only one that will secure the sporting and community legacy promise of the
Olympic Stadium - an amazing year-round home for football, athletics and
community events of which the nation could be proud. "The true legacy of
London 2012 will be the creation of jobs and a generation of young people
inspired by sport based around a community home for all by 2014. We remain
committed to help deliver that legacy promise to the people of London and
the nation."
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Olympic Stadium 'to remain empty for years' as deal collapses
Telegraph.co.uk
Published on Tuesday 11 October 2011 09:06
THE Government will announce today that the Olympic Stadium deal with West
Ham and Newham Council has collapsed. Legal challenges by Tottenham and
Leyton Orient, plus an anonymous complaint to the European Commission, has
led to fears that court action could drag on for years while the stadium
remains empty. A ministerial statement is expected around lunchtime, saying
that the stadium will remain in public ownership and leased out to an anchor
tenant following a new tender process. It is likely that, under the new
tender process, any costs of transforming the stadium after the 2012 Games
will be covered by the Olympic Park Legacy Company. Prospective tenants will
then be asked to bid for the stadium with the running track remaining in
place. The tenants would pay an annual rent to the OPLC which could actually
prove to be less costly for the likes of West Ham. The move will also remove
uncertainty over the stadium ahead of London's bid for the 2017 World
Athletics Championships, although that was not a major consideration in the
decision to abandon the current deal. The Government, the London Mayor's
office and the OPLC have moved to scrap the current deal in order to try to
end the legal challenges over the stadium's ownership. There has been an
anonymous complaint to the European Commission, claiming that the £40
million being provided by Newham to West Ham represented "state aid". That
complaint was regarded with particular concern amid fears it could take
years to come to a conclusion.
There were also worries that the application for a judicial review by Spurs
and Orient could drag on and, even if their bids failed, they could appeal.
It is understood that no contract has been signed with West Ham, allowing
the move to a fresh tender process, but the club will be encouraged to bid
again. The move was welcomed by Ed Warner, chair of the UK Athletics board.
"I think this is a bold and decisive move by the legacy company, supported
obviously by the mayor and the Government. It means that the stadium will
open for athletics in the summer of 2014, which was always the plan," he
told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. "They were faced with a number of legal
challenges and this is the way in which they have been able to scotch all of
those."
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