Daily WHUFC News - 14th November 2012

Big Sam hails his 'happiest day'
WHUFC.com
The West Ham United manager was a welcome guest of the 2012/13 Supporter
Advisory Board
14.11.2012

Sam Allardyce has described West Ham United's npower Championship Play-Off
final victory as his 'happiest day in football'. Big Sam, who has taken
charge of nearly 800 competitive matches at Blackpool, Notts County, Bolton
Wanderers, Newcastle United, Blackburn Rovers and West Ham since 1994, led
the Hammers to promotion in his first season at the Boleyn Ground. Speaking
at a Supporter Advisory Board (SAB) meeting this week, the manager was given
a warm welcome by more than 100 fans before taking part in an enjoyable
question and answer session. Big Sam discussed a wide range of issues,
including West Ham's fine start to the Barclays Premier League season, how
he intends to establish the Hammers as a top-flight club, his pioneering use
of performance analysis, how he scouts new recruits, his standout players so
far this season and the professionalism and consistency of his squad. After
reconfirming his commitment to the continued development of young players
and his intention to send some of them out on loan later this month, the
manager was also asked to reveal the happiest moment of his 20-year
management career. "I think the happiest moment of my career was Wembley,
without a doubt" said Big Sam, to widespread nods from SAB members. "I'm not
a Bolton lad - I was born in the Midlands but I started my career at the
highest level with Bolton and they were obviously close to my heart. When I
got them into the Premier League at the Millennium Stadium against Preston
[North End in 2001] that was pretty special, but it wasn't as good as
Wembley. "It was just unbelievable when we won. Just reflecting on the
occasion, it was just a cauldron of noise and it made the hair on the back
of your neck stand up on end from the very, very start until the very, very
end. That was my happiest moment."

Big Sam was subsequently congratulated on the job he has done since taking
charge at the club 18 months ago - during which time he has won 32 and lost
just eleven of the 60 league and Play-Off matches he has taken charge of.
Led by Head of Marketing Tara Warren, the SAB has returned for a second
season in 2012/13, with more than 100 both returning and new members
advising the club on key policy issues. As was seen last season, the SAB and
its various sub-committees can and do make a very real difference to
supporters' experiences. In 2011/12, for example, the SAB helped to secure
match packages to make football 'Affordable for All' and was instrumental in
the launch of the new Junior Hammers membership scheme for 0-6 year olds.
The SAB also played a leading role in the introduction of the popular 'Moore
than a Football Club' brand, improved matchday entertainment and the
introduction of new benefits for Season Ticket Holders. This season, the
sub-committees will examine a variety of subjects, including the matchday
experience, ticketing, media, retail and the club's role in the community.

For more information about the Supporter Advisory Board, click here.
The 2012/13 Supporter Advisory Board
Keith Alder-Barber
Stuart Allen
Graeme Archer
Satvir Atkar
Steven Barlow
Tony Barritt
Catherine Bayford
Rachel Beagles
Daniel Bloom
Jack Boteler
Tim Boughen
Peter Bruce
Steve Burton
Peter Caton
Will Cheeld
Neil Clack
Daniel Clement
Marcus Clement
David Clements
Andy Connacher
Tina Cowen
Lesley Craig
Colin Crowe
Michael Crowhurst
Stuart Dean
Jill Dower
Tom Dowsett
Neil Duggan
Kevin Dunckley
Gavin Dunstan
Dee England
Saul Ettridge
Michael Evans
Tricia Evans
John Farren
Rob Ford
Paul Fox
Richard Francis
Michelle Gabriel
Johnathan Gaffney
Paul Gibson
Sherrie Goldsmith
David Hall
David Halston
Tony Harries
Graham Hatt
Benjamin Hawkes
Ian Henderson
Jack Hess
Graham Howlett
Craig Hughes
Peter Hunt
Anthony Hyams
Deniz Jaffer
Steve Joyce
Nigel Kahn
Diane Keleghar
John Kemp
Warren Kober
Adrian Leahy
Victor Lindsell
John Llewellyn
Phil Llewellyn
Kevin Markham
Ryan Marsh
Steve Marsh
Neil Martin
Dan Mason
Suzanne Mason
Gerry McCarthy
Norman McGuire
Steve Medhurst
Antoni Miziolek
Darren Morgan
Colin Morris
John Norman
Michael Nuciford
Leigh O'Connor
Cecilia O'Herlihy
Wallace Onnie
John Parry
Jonathan Penfold
Eamon Quinn
Kevin Radley
Paul Reynolds
Paul Richardson
Pete Richardson
Jason Rose
James Rutherford
Steve Ryder
Nigel Salvage
Nick Scott
Barry Shelton
Stuart Slaney
Mark Steele
Terry Stokes
Ben Surdeau
John Sussex
Dave Tate
Mark Taylor
Kishan Teli
Simon Thomson
Eleanor Tilley
Mark Tilley
Stephen Todd
Stephen Trowers
Kathryn Upton
John Walker
Ian Wearne
Sean Whetstone
Anne-Marie White
Peter Whitelock
Nick Wood
Richard Wood
Ali Worth
Ian Wicks
Trevor Wisdom
Daniel Yallop
John Yewman
Jason Zammit

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Hendo hopes best is yet to come
WHUFC.com
Ian Hendon wants his Development Squad to kick on from their table-topping
start to the season
14.11.2012

Ian Hendon will not allow the Development Squad to take their foot off the
gas despite having a five-point lead at the top of the Barclays Under-21
Premier League. Paul McCallum's 87th-minute header gave Hendon's side a
massive three points against Arsenal at London Colney on Friday, but the
manager insists not is no time to rest. Hendon now hopes his side can
continue their fine form and not only qualify for the Barclays Under-21
Elite League but win the current league in the process. "We have come this
far and have a five-point lead at the top so we want to see it out and win
it, it is no time to put our feet up, we want to win ever game," Hendon
said. "The initial aim was to qualify and get into the top three, hopefully
we have now done that but if not we will face West Brom next week and try to
win that game."

Despite their spectacular form, Hendon still insists that level of
performance will always take precedence over results at this level. "It is
always about the performances and development of the players, the fact we
are winning games and the lads are working hard for each other is a bonus.
You play against teams at this level and see they have one stand-out
individual but I have got a group of players who work hard for each other
every day of the week. It is a pleasure to coach them."

Hendon also pinpointed the togetherness within the club from top to bottom
as a contributing factor to its current success at every level. "I was not
here before Sam Allardyce came in. I came in at the same time but from what
I am told he has brought a new level on enthusiasm to every aspect of the
club. "Everyone is behind what we are trying to do, it is all about the
first-team pushing to achieve the best they can but the Development Squad
and the Academy are also going well. Everyone is pulling in the right
direction."

The former Tottenham player continued by paying tribute to the work being
done by Nick Haycock and Tony Carr in the Academy of Football. "I had
youth-team players in my side against Arsenal - Frazer Shaw stepped up again
and it shows what a good job Nick and Tony are doing in the Academy. "There
are players trying to push through into the Development Squad all the time
but my aim is to push my players into the first-team. A few have already
made their debuts this season and hopefully a few more can by May."

"Rob Hall is just one who has been involved with the first-team and you saw
why on Friday but I think it gives the rest of the lads something to aim
for. "It shows that the manager is always watching and willing to give you
an opportunity so as I said I hope a few more can be involved in the
future." Next up for Hendon's side is a home tie against West Bromwich
Albion, who held the Development Squad to a 1-1 draw at the Hawthorns. "We
face West Brom at Rush Green next Friday and if it is anything like the
reverse fixture it will be a very tough game. They had an experienced side
out with a few first-team players but our young side coped well and got a
deserved point out of the game. "It does not matter what side they bring, if
it is an experienced one we will deal with it, if it is a young side we will
deal with it, so we will take it as it comes have a good weeks training and
look forward to Friday night."

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Jussi: the number one's number one
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 14th November 2012
By: Staff Writer

West Ham United's Jussi Jaaskelainen is top of the OPTA goalkeeping stats,
according to latest figures. The 37-year-old Finnish stopper, who joined
United this summer on a free transfer has the highest 'saves to shot' ratio
of any of the Premier League's regular number ones so far this season.
Jasskelainen's score of 82 per cent is five per cent higher than his nearest
rival Simon Mignolet of Sunderland - and seven clear of Ben Foster of West
Brom and Chelsea's Petr Cech, who score 75 per cent. The former Bolton man
also tops the OPTA points rating system - which is calculated by awarding
points for saves and clean sheets - with 109 points.

England's Number One: The OPTA Saves-To-Shots Ratio Chart
(OPTA points rating in parenthesis)

1. Jussi Jaaskelainen (West Ham United) 82% (109)
2. Simon Mignolet (Sunderland) 77% (76)
3. Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion) 75% (60)
4. Petr Cech (Chelsea) 75% (72)
5. Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) 73% (55)
6. Tim Krul (Newcastle United) 73% (36)
7. Michel Vorm (Swansea City) 72% (68)
8. Asmir Begovic (Stoke City) 72% (64)
9. Vito Mannone (Arsenal) 70% (51)
10. David De Gea (Manchester United) 70% (45)
11. Alex McCarthy (Reading) 69% (47)
12. Mark Schwarzer (Fulham) 68% (74)
13. Ali Al-Habsi (Wigan Athletic) 68% (69)
14. John Ruddy (Norwich) 67% (78)
15. Tim Howard (Everton) 67% (52)
16. Joe Hart (Manchester City) 67% (46)
17. Brad Guzan (Aston Villa) 66% (52)
18. Brad Friedel (Tottenham Hotspur) 60% (40)
19. Kelvin Davis (Southampton) 53% (25)
20. Jose Reina (Liverpool) 50% (23)

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Reflections
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 13th November 2012
By: Tom Kilbey

Having taken a break from writing regularly, the last few weeks have given
me a chance to reflect on where our team are.

We are well into our 'tough run', the second of Allardyce's well-documented
'phases' of the season. After a fantastic start, I was very vocal in playing
down our chances of success for the season. After a draw and a victory
against Manchester City and Newcastle respectively, surely even the most
optimistic fan would have to concede we have exceeded expectations.

Needless to say, as I look at the league table, and see us sit above many of
our more illustrious opponents, I am stunned with our start. On the back of
our best start in Premier League history, we can begin to draw some
conclusions, and our team are beginning to answer some of the questions that
we as fans, and me in particular, had before the season kicked off. Here are
a few observations that I have made this season which explain our successes
so far this year.

1) Our defence is answering its critics.

The best way to silence doubters is to perform on the pitch. I'm happy to
admit I was one of those doubters, and I am on the verge of willingly
holding my hands up. Firstly, I've never seen a West Ham player show as much
progression in a short period as Winston Reid. As I suggested last season, a
year in the Championship would work miracles in giving our defenders a
chance to gain confidence, learn the English game and develop a partnership
with each other. This has certainly been the case with Reid.

Besides the fun but somewhat irrelevant cult status he has acquired after
his winner against Millwall, the facts are that Winston is now a very good
defender. His positioning and reading of the game is fantastic, he is quick
over short distances, and is comfortable on the ball. He has progressed from
a squad player who did not inspire confidence when required to fill in, to
being one of the first names on the team sheet.

Similarly, our other centre defenders have definitely stepped up to the
plate. Both Tomkins and Collins have demonstrated they are perfectly
competent at this level, and although my preference remains to be our
academy product, I am growing more comfortable watching Collins step in.
With our full backs, despite being categorically unspectacular, McCartney
and O'Brien are quietly getting better and better, and with Demel waiting in
the wings, we are equally equipped at right back.

2) Our worries about our style of play was (largely) unfounded.

Any regular visitors to Upton Park last season will agree that, at times,
our style of play was quite frankly horrible. On regular occasions, we would
persistently lump the ball up towards Carlton Cole, who invariably struggled
to win headers, and often left us lacking any sort of creativity or cutting
edge. Allardyce's refusal to change to any sort of plan B led to much
disapproval from the fans.

This has simply not been the case this season. The one mark on this record
would be the performance against Wigan which was woeful. However, our
downfalls in that game were highlighted, and no excuses were made for our
one-dimensional tactics which dismally failed. Apart from this, the story
this season has been very different. We have used a more measured approach,
playing the ball into feet, and short passing is now used to complement the
'long ball' tactics that we are perceived to play. This allows us to gain a
degree of control of games that is essential in Premier League games.

3) Mark Noble.

The stats do not lie. By far and away the most prolific tackler in the whole
league, Mark Noble is the cog that makes our team work. He breaks up the
play so well, and demonstrates a competence on the ball in midfield that we
thought we had lost when we sold Parker to Spurs. Simply, Noble's
contribution this season are a significant factor in our successes. Besides
his tackling, the influence he provides through his passing is also
admirable.
Without meaning to sound cynical, Noble's passing is never going to be
applauded to the extent it should, simply because he is placing for a team
who play 'hoofball' every week. But he is so effective at dropping deep,
picking the ball up, and playing passes which start off attacks. His display
against Manchester City also demonstrates his ability to pick a long pass.
When Noble plays well, we play well, and if he can continue his fine form,
we will continue to pick up points.

4) Our fans have got right behind the team.

This one is not a surprise. At times last season, Upton Park was not a
particularly pleasant place to watch a game of football, let alone play
there. The fans created a negative atmosphere at times, which filtered
through to the players. Regardless of one's opinion of whether booing is
right or wrong, the performances on the pitch encouraged the fans to voice
their discontent, which affected the players on the pitch. But clearly, good
performances on the pitch and good atmospheres in the stands go hand in
hand, and our positive play this year has encouraged the fans to get behind
the club, which is fantastic news.

5) Our new signings have hit the ground running.

Last, and by no means least, our new signings have been excellent. As I've
already highlighted James Collins has showed that he is a match, at least
physically, for any forward in the league. Mo Diame is proving to be one of
the best summer signings in the entire league. He is a player in the mould
of Yaya Toure, which can only be a good thing. His strength and power allows
him to be extremely direct with his forward runs, and he is a physical force
when we do not have the ball. He is improving game on game, and his
performance against Newcastle was among his best in his short time at the
club.

Andy Carroll has enjoyed a mixed start. Critics would argue that he is yet
to net his first goal, but his all round contribution is excellent. He
provides an outlet when we are under pressure, by winning free kicks and
holding the ball up. It may be frustrating for him, but in a somewhat
paradoxical sense considering he is a striker, a goal isn't of utmost
importance. If he continues to provide goals for other players in the team,
he will prove an extremely useful asset for the team.

All in all, we are at an important stage of the season. I still insist that
we should not get carried away. It would not be unconceivable to see us go
on a winless streak with the increasing difficulty of our next few fixtures.
The fact that this seems unlikely is testament to Allardyce and his players.
Considering we have just been promoted from the Championship, our squad
possesses a level of experience and class that has not been seen since the
Newcastle squad of 2010. We do not have the same fragilities that the likes
of Reading and Southampton possess, and teams that have been promoted in
previous years and ultimately failed to consolidate their position in the
top flight.

After our best start to a season for a quarter of a century, we are almost
half way to the forty point mark, and we are well equipped to pick up the
other half and secure safety. Once we have done this, and only then, we can
look at securing a comfortable mid table finish, or even dare to look into
the top half. We will be able to bring through some of our exciting
youngsters, and look ahead to another season of progression next year. It's
certainly an exciting time to be a West Ham fan, and with a difficult run of
games, we can enjoy them without too much pressure, in the knowledge that we
are already well on the way to a respectable finish this season.


Tom Kilbey may also be found on Twitter at twitter.com/tom29whu.

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Does Nolan Deserve an England Call-Up?
West Ham Till I Die

In the aftermath of the 0-1 victory over Newcastle Utd, there has been a
fair amount of discussion generated concerning whether Kevin Nolan deserves
an England call-up. At 30 years of age, some might argue that it is a little
late in the day for that, but why? If a 31 year old Leon Osman can be called
up, why not a 30 year old Nolan?

Arguably, Nolan is that most precious of commodities, a goal scoring
midfielder. A bit like Frank Lampard Jnr, they are deadly supporting the
striker(s) and scoring from advanced positions. In doing so, they accumulate
a goal tally, in the course of a season, that some strikers would consider a
decent and productive return. Nolan has the positional instincts of a
striker in the final third, he always seems to know where to best position
himself to snap up the chances. And we are, once again, benefiting from that
this season, with his current return of 5 goals in 11 PL matches.

An added attraction for England is Nolan great understanding with Andy
Carroll. Would that not benefit the national side, in much the same way that
it has been a massive bonus at club-level. Or is it the case that while
Nolan may be useful in the PL, international football is too big a step up
for him? Can he reproduce it for England or would he struggle to do it at
that level? They are no doubt some of the issues in a 'Nolan for England'
debate. Personally, I see no reason why he should not get an opportunity.
Much like Mark Noble, the ultimate litmus test of a player's international
credentials is to test him at that level. I do not believe that anyone can
honestly say that Nolan and Noble have not earnt the chance via their
excellent respective PL displays this season.

So, is Nolan a viable choice at international level? Discuss.

SJ. Chandos.

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Stadium mystery: Three charged with fraud following probe into allegations
that Tottenham spied on Olympic officials
By Alex Hankin Comments
The Mirror
14 Nov 2012 16:22

The ugly tussle between West Ham and Tottenham over the future tenancy of
the Olympic Stadium will be at the centre of a court case relating to
allegations of espionage...

Three people have been charged with fraud over allegations of unlawful
obtaining of information linked to the Olympic Park, Scotland Yard has said,
according to a report by the Press Association. Detectives have been
investigating claims made by West Ham United Football Club and the Olympic
Park Legacy Company. Richard Michael Forrest, 30, Lee Stewart, 39, and
Howard Hill, 58, are all due to appear in court on November 28. The
investigation surrounds allegations that Tottenham Hotspur Football Club
spied on Olympic officials during its stadium bid. Forrest, from Crawley,
West Sussex, and Stewart, from Esher in Surrey, are both accused of
conspiracy with Hill to commit fraud by false representation. Hill, from
Stockport in Cheshire, is accused of conspiracy with the other two men to
commit the same offence. They will all appear at Westminster Magistrates'
Court later this month. Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) chairwoman
Baroness Ford claimed in November last year that Spurs had all 14 members of
her board monitored by private investigators. The north London club denied
putting officials under surveillance. There was a deal with West Ham and
Newham Council to use the stadium in Stratford, east London, after the 2012
Games, but that collapsed in October last year. Tottenham had already lost
out to West Ham in the race to become the OPLC's first choice to move into
the stadium after the Olympics. Challenges by Tottenham Hotspur and Leyton
Orient, plus an anonymous complaint to the European Commission, led to fears
that court action could drag on for years while the stadium remained empty.

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On track: West Ham remain committed to Olympic Stadium move
The Mirror
11 Oct 2012 15:55

West Ham are still committed to making the Olympic Stadium their new home
despite concerns over a possible delay in the bidding process. Applications
to take over the stadium were forced to start again after challenges from
both Tottenham and Leyton Orient to the Hammers proposed tenancy.
Nevertheless, West Ham want to become main tenants for the start of the
2014-15 season. In a statement released by West Ham said: "It is now 20
months since West Ham United were initially named as the preferred bidder to
occupy the Olympic Stadium post-Games. We are obviously disappointed, that
three bids later, a decision has yet to be reached. "We do however remain
fully committed to becoming the catalyst to galvanise the Olympic Park by
bringing people, jobs and a robust and sustainable commercial offer that
guarantees a return to the taxpayer of the money already invested."

Other bids are under consideration include one from Leyton Orient, a
football business college and a group wanting to host a Formula One race at
the Olympic Park. The £486million Olympic Stadium has already been earmarked
for 20 athletics meetings, which include the World Championships in 2017,
and will also be available for community use, with Newham Council
contributing some £40million in a loan towards the redevelopment project.
Hone said: "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."

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Olympic Stadium's future is taking too long to resolve
David Bond | 17:53 UK time, Wednesday, 14 November 2012

Despite claims to the contrary, Boris Johnson believes the Olympic Stadium
will be ready to reopen before the end of the Rio Games in 2016.
Nevertheless - and despite the London Mayor's optimism when talking to
London Assembly members on Wednesday - it remains a very real prospect that
a stadium widely acclaimed during London's successful Games, and which took
just three years to build, will take four years to convert. Dennis Hone, the
chief executive of the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), said as
much again when he repeated his line to the London Assembly from last week
that 2015 is now the target but 2016 a possibility. Johnson added,
worryingly, that Londoners might have to be patient and recognise the
Olympic Stadium was not built to be "the kind of omni-purpose world-class
venue capable of hosting Premier League football that it should be".

So why are we in this mess?

The main reason, as Johnson suggests, is that organisers made a major
mistake by writing Premier League football out of original designs for the
legacy use of the stadium. But we've known this for years. So why is it in
danger of descending into another farce?

The process to find a long-term anchor for the stadium is stalling because
the plans to convert it for Premier League football have changed again,
increasing the cost to somewhere between £180m and £190m.

Under the original deal with West Ham, which collapsed last autumn because
of legal challenges, the Premier League team would own the freehold to the
stadium.

At that time the cost discussed was around £95m to £100m and was to be
funded from three sources - £38m from the Olympic budget of £9.3bn, £40m
from Newham Council in the form of a low interest loan, and around £20m from
the sale of Upton Park.

This would have paid to extend the roof - which currently only covers two
thirds of the seating area - add corporate hospitality facilities and
refurbish toilets.

So why has the cost almost doubled?

The main reason is the decision to add retractable seating to bring football
fans closer to the action.

Demountable seats - similar to the ones used for temporary venues like
Greenwich Park during the Games - cost less but take weeks to put up and
take down.

This potentially impacts on the commercial value of the stadium as it may
reduce the number of events that can be staged there.

So, while a retractable seating mechanism costs a lot more to factor in, the
LLDC is thought to now favour the option as it could lead to more income in
the long run.

The roof also needs an even bigger extension as it would now need to cover
the running track and the retractable seats on it.

But while the costs have gone up, the funding provision has, largely,
remained the same.

There is still £38m from the Olympic budget, a loan of £40m from Newham
(although this could be increased) and a contribution from West Ham, though,
surprisingly perhaps, this appears to have gone down to around £10m.

West Ham argue that they bring unique commercial value to the stadium
project and now believe that, as they are no longer going to own the
freehold to the stadium, it is the landlord - the mayor and LLDC - who
should bear the cost of upgrading it for football. Without them, the stadium
will become a costly millstone around taxpayers' necks, they say.

The Premier League club are understood to have submitted a package which
includes a minimum lump sum, an annual rental (around £2m) and a share of
any naming rights deal they are able to bring in. There is also haggling
going on over how the revenue from catering should be split between tenant
and landlord.

But it is the capital funding shortfall that is proving to be the big
stumbling block. So how do you plug the gap?

Johnson has already tried to raid the £377m Olympic budget underspend -
receiving a swift and negative response from the Chancellor, George Osborne.
There are London taxpayer funds available and the LLDC itself could raid
some of its own transformation budget but that could mean spending less on
other parts of the park. There is also nervousness about the legal
implications of publicly subsidising a big football club.

It is a complicated process that has not been helped by the continual
changes at the top of the LLDC. Johnson is now chairing the organisation,
having taken over from Daniel Moylan in September, while Hone, the widely
respected chief of the Olympic Delivery Authority, replaced former chief
executive Andy Altman.

West Ham remain the favourites to secure the deal as anchor tenants for a
stadium which cost £431m to build, well ahead of rival bids from Leyton
Orient Football Club, a football business school and a consortium proposing
Formula One races in the park.

Yet the LLDC could still snub West Ham, appoint an operating company and
just hire the stadium out for concerts and more occasional sporting events
like NFL matches, big rugby games, combining it with more community use.

This would allow the stadium to reopen in 2014, and avoid spending the best
part of £200m and losing valuable income while the stadium remains shut.
Without a big football team the running costs would also be lower.

Of course all this could have been avoided had the Government and the
Olympic Delivery Authority factored in Premier League football back in 2006
and 2007 when the plans were being drawn up.

It is a costly mistake which continues to overshadow all the other wonderful
achievements delivered by London's Olympic organisers.

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Olympic Stadium saga becoming 'a Stratford farce', says athletics chief
Ed Warner frustrated park could be dormant site until 2015
'There is one viable option – multi-use. Just get on with it'
James Riach
The Guardian, Wednesday 14 November 2012 17.34 GMT

Ed Warner, the UK Athletics chairman, does not believe the impasse over the
Olympic Stadium will threaten Britain's successful bid to host the world
championships in five years' time. The saga regarding the future of London's
Olympic Stadium has been criticised as "a Stratford farce" by the UK
Athletics chairman, Ed Warner, with negotiations surrounding the £468m
facility set to drag on until the new year.

Dennis Hone, the chief executive of the London Legacy Development
Corporation, revealed last week that if a costing agreement is reached with
West Ham United to convert the stadium into a dual football and athletics
venue then the Premier League club would not move into their new home until
2016.

However, although Warner, who is also chairman of the 2017 athletics world
championships organising committee, does not believe that the impasse will
threaten Britain's successful bid to host that event in five years' time, he
is frustrated that the Olympic Park in east London could be a dormant site
until the European hockey championships in 2015.

"I want a decision – any talk of 2016 is concerning, not for the 2017 world
championships but for getting other events there. We want the Diamond League
meeting in there, we want our trials in there, we want to see kids'
athletics in the stadium. Just as I know West Ham want to see football in
the stadium," he said.

"I wouldn't say this is a Whitehall farce, it's fast becoming a Stratford
farce. To my mind there is one absolutely viable option which is multi-use,
just get on with it and use it. There is another very viable option – I
think our friends at West Ham have been phenomenally patient over the last
few months.

"Whichever of those two routes is taken works for UK Athletics but get it
over with. We have a programme of events which that stadium can host, which
we had planned to start in the summer of 2014. We don't really want a race
with the Rio opening ceremony to the reopening of the London Olympic
Stadium."

Boris Johnson said on Wednesday: "It would be wrong to get into a proxy
discussion on negotiations with putative future tenants. The cost of doing
the stadium up in the way the people of this country would expect is
considerable. It was not designed for football, there was a decision taken
not to do it in that way," the London mayor said. "I think it very, very
unlikely we won't get the stadium open by then [the Rio 2016 Olympics
closing ceremony]."

There remains a gap between the amount West Ham are prepared to put towards
the stadium's conversion costs, which would pay for the installation of
retractable seats and a cantilevered roof, and what the LLDC believes would
be a suitable sum.

An investigator hired by Tottenham during their failed bid in 2011 to become
the Olympic Stadium's tenants has been charged by the Metropolitan police
with fraud. Howard Hill, 58, allegedly obtained the private telephone
records of the West Ham director Karren Brady in an illegal fashion.

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Three charged for fraud over Spurs Olympic Stadium row with rivals West Ham
Daily Mail
Tottenham denied putting officials - including West Ham vice-chairman Karren
Brady - under surveillance
OPLC chairwoman Baroness Ford claimed that Spurs had all 14 members of her
board monitored by private investigators
By LAURA WILLIAMSON
PUBLISHED: 16:02, 14 November 2012 | UPDATED: 20:11, 14 November 2012

Three men have been charged with fraud after claims that Tottenham hired
private investigators to snoop on West Ham as the clubs battled over the
Olympic Stadium. The trio are alleged to have accessed telephone bills and
other private records of West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady illegally.
Richard Michael Forrest, Lee Stewart and Howard Hill are due to appear in
Westminster Magistrates Court on November 28 after a 14-month investigation
by the Metropolitan Police. West Ham and the Olympic Park Legacy Company
(OPLC) took legal action in July 2011 after allegations published in The
Sunday Times suggested 'the accessing of private information by illegal
means'. Baroness Ford, chairwoman of OPLC, also claimed in November last
year that all 14 members of her board 'were placed under surveillance' by
Spurs, which the club strongly denies. But Hill, 58, from Stockport, was a
senior investigator at accountancy firm PFK when Spurs hired them to conduct
an inquiry into the stadium bidding process, although a court later heard
there were 'no documents' to clarify his role. Spurs had no comment to make
but insist PFK acted independently. Hill was accused of two counts of
conspiracy to commit fraud. Forrest, 30, who is understood to run a private
investigation firm, and Stewart, 39, from Esher in Surrey, were also accused
of conspiracy with Hill to commit fraud by false representation. West Ham
declined to comment, saying it was a police matter.

West Ham, with partners Newham Council, were initially successful in their
bid for the stadium but the deal collapsed in October 2011 after challenges
from Spurs and Leyton Orient and an anonymous complaint to the European
Commission. West Ham are still the leading contenders to move into the
stadium, with a decision expected by December 5, but there is significant
disagreement over who will pay the £200million needed to convert the
80,000-seat arena into a football stadium.

The London Legacy Development Corporation confirmed last week that the
stadium will not reopen until at least August 2015. The Olympic Park is
already cut off to the public until next July, when the northern part of the
facility will open. The southern area, including the Aquatics Centre, is not
due to open until Easter 2014. UK Athletics chairman Ed Warner and sports
minister Hugh Robertson said there was no threat to the 2017 World Athletics
Championships in London, but Mayor of London Boris Johnson insisted the
stadium's legacy is not 'solely about athletics'. He said: 'That means
delivering a stadium that preferably is multi- purpose, at the heart of the
community, and able to host concerts and big set-piece events alongside
world-class sport.'

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Trio to face fraud trial
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 15th November 2012
By: Staff Writer

Three men have been formally charged in connection with the theft of
personal records belonging to West Ham United vice chair Karren Brady. The
trio - named as Richard Forrest, 30, Lee Stewart, 39 and Howard Hill, 58
will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, 28th November to
answer fraud charges in relation to the unlawful acquisition of Brady's
private telephone records. Hill, who has since resigned from accountants PKF
was an employee of the company at the time they were hired by Tottenham
Hotspur FC to investigate the details behind West Ham's previously
successful bid to become anchor tenants at the Olympic Stadium. West Ham
United initially contacted Police in July 2011 following claims in the
Sunday Times that employees' personal records had been surreptitiously
gained by corporate investigators. In the same week the Olympic Park Legacy
Company also registered a complaint of a similar nature after it was
suggested chief executive Andrew Altman had been targeted. A second OLPC
member - Ms Dionne Knight, who was subsequently suspended following the
revelation that she had been temporarily employed by West Ham as a
consultant - was said to have been spied upon by the investigators at her
home address. The charges follow a year-long investigation by the
Metropolitan Police. A fourth individual remains on bail whilst two others
have who were arrested in connection with the affair have been released
without charge.

* Brady has revealed that she is investigating the circumstances regarding
Savio Nsereko's 2009 move from Brescia to West Ham. "Just before this board
took over, the club paid a huge amount to Brescia for the German Under-21
who took part in a handful of matches and then departed for Fiorentina at a
fraction of the price," she said in her latest tabloid column. "The deal is
something I'm investigating."

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A very British farce
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 15th November 2012
By: Staff Writer

UK Athletics chairman Ed Warner has referred to the ongoing uncertainty over
the future of the Olympic Stadium as 'a Stratford farce'. Warner, who as
Chiarman of the organising committe is responsible for organising the 2017
athletics World Championships hit out today in the wake of news that the
arena is unlikely to open before 2016 - the same year as the NEXT Olympic
Games are due to take place in Rio. "Any talk of [waiting until] 2016 is
concerning, not for the 2017 World Championships but for getting other
events there," he said. "I want a decision. "We want the Diamond League
meeting in there, we want our trials in there, we want to see kids'
athletics in the stadium - just as I know West Ham want to see football in
the stadium. "I wouldn't say this is a Whitehall farce, it's fast becoming a
Stratford farce. To my mind there is one absolutely viable option which is
multi-use, just get on with it and use it. "There is another very viable
option – and I think our friends at West Ham have been phenomenally patient
over the last few months. Whichever of those two routes is taken works for
UK Athletics - but get it over with. "We have a programme of events which
that stadium can host, which we had planned to start in the summer of 2014.
We don't really want a race with the Rio opening ceremony to the reopening
of the London Olympic Stadium."

Meanwhile Sports Minister Hugh Robertson appeared to suggest that a deal
with West Ham was close to reaching fruition - although there were some
hurdles that still needed to be negotiated. "There is a commercial
negotiation going on with West Ham and it's a question of how quickly the
Mayor and the Legacy Company can close the gap," he said. "There is a
package on the table which includes the conversion costs that were built
into the budget and a contribution from the local authority and some money
that West Ham might put into it. "Then there is the bill for all the things
they would ideally want to do to have what they would see as a modern
stadium."

Central to West Ham's plans for the new-look Olympic Stadium is retractable
seating, which will cost around £200million to install. However the Treasury
recently ruled out using some of the excess funds previously allocated to
the Olympic Games for this purpose. West Ham are said to have offered an
initial lump sum plus an annual rent of around £2million to take control of
the stadium, but believe that as tenants the brunt of redevelopment costs
should be provided by the landlord - the LLDC.

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