London 2012 - West Ham 'doubt' over Olympic Stadium move
West Ham co-chairman David Gold has admitted for the first time the club may not move into the Olympic Stadium.
The Hammers were awarded the stadium earlier this year only for the deal to collapse last month due to legal challenges by Tottenham and Leyton Orient, as well as an anonymous complaint to the European Commission.
A new tender process is being launched by the Olympic Park Legacy Company and the venue, complete with an athletics track, will now be rented out after the London 2012 Games with West Ham seemingly the most likely tenants.
But Gold has revealed that while the club remain desperate to leave their current Boleyn Ground at Upton Park, there is now a doubt surrounding their plans to move into the Stratford site.
"I have mixed feelings," Gold told talkSPORT. "The Olympic Stadium is very exciting, but we need a consultancy procedure with our fans, that is important.
"I am ruling out developing the Boleyn, that would be pouring money down the drain. But what we can't do is nothing.
"The obvious change that everyone is looking at is the Olympic Stadium. But there is a doubt, there are issues unresolved."
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Congratulations to Ernie have a great day and thanks for all the memories. Our backgarden backed onto the Memorial Grounds so I played many a game over there. Great idea new stadium on our WH roots.
The Olympic Stadium would have had some benifits such as capacity, increased revenue and a prestigous venue.
However a new stadium of our own with no parasite hangers on is the answer, we need a new ground with improved facilities, improved capacity to generate the increased finance to enable us to compete with the big six clubs,if we want to be succesful on and off the pitch we need to generate new finance, this new money would come from the increased capacity, extra merchandising, advertising and sponsorship. So come on Mr Gold & Sullivan talk to the fans
Good again.
Good
well said john-----happy returns to ernie and promotion back 2 the premiership under big sam and his backroom staff....
Martin you might just be the man, I played most of my YOC football at Southern Road just behind the Greengate some 60 years ago and would like to know if it still exists? Like yourself we played on cinders which I think explained why we went unbeaten for 3 years! I saw Ernie's debut and he made up for Harry Medhurst going to Chelsea, in between we had a fair goallie George Taylor whose career never fostered from the time he let in an own goal from a pass back from almost the halfway line [between his legs] the fans never forgave him.
Great news...hopefully, too much history to lose if we moved, about time the supporters had a say, most of us want to stay put at the Boleyn..Happy Birthday Ernie Gregor IRONS LEGEND
Actually redevelopment of the Boleyn ground would not be pouring money away. It would not be difficult to fill in the corners and redevelop the east stand.Yes there would be some inconvenience for a while. This would push capacity past the 40,000 mark. There is a rumour that a planning application to do this exists and that permission had been granted in the past. Keeping the Boleyn ground also helps local shops and businesses in the area especially on matchday. If, as Gold states, a consultancy process is put in place with the fans, and the result was heeded, then a move to the Olympic stadium would be off the cards. I am season ticket holder at West Ham and am yes to see any real support for a move there.
Good on yer Ernie have agreat day.I remember the old West Ham pitch i still have the scars to prove it .Grass never heard of it we played on a surface there made up of old burnt coke ash and cinders you tried to stay on your feet at all costs.I still have black bits of coke in my knees 50years on,no health and safety then.The old stand was still there untill the early 70s.Not a bad idea returning there.See you in the premership next year.
I was about to post a comment saying that for the first time in a long time we haven't had a peep from Gilbert and Sullivan
Maybe I spoke too soon but at least it's only about the Olympic Stadium and not the football team that Sam is running- he seems to have shut them up on that score
I don't understand why we need to move from Upton Park - maybe someone could explain this ?
OK it only holds 35,000 and that won't be big enough for a top Premier club playing in the Champions league
Hang on - we're a long way from being that and Fulham manage quite well playing in the Europa league with a similar size ground Craven Cottage
Hang on again - didn't West Ham once upon a time win the European Cup Winners cup with Upton Park as their home ground ?
So Mr Gold or is it Mr Sullivan and the rest of the Brady Bunch - please tell us the stupid supporters who have followed the club through thick and thin for the last half century + as well as all the travelling hardcore of 4,000 who go to all the away games
WHAT THE @#$% IS GOING ON HERE ?
Now PLEASE could some considerationbe given to the Memorial Grounds at West Ham station and a ten minute walk from Canning Town station. Not only is it where West Ham first played but it covers an area that could house a stadium to meet the Irons needs. Whilst typing this would like to add that Ernie Gregory is 90 this week - every best wish Ernie and thank for some fantastic memories.
Good!
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