April 13 – West Ham United need to make sure they avoid relegation from the Premier League first before they start thinking about plans to move into the Olympic Stadium, Sir Trevor Brooking (pictured) has warned.
Sir Trevor, who made a record 528 appearances for the Hammers in a 17-year career with the club that started in 1967, has admitted that he would be sorry to leave Upton Park, the club’s home ground since 1904.
He said: ”I am relaxed about it [moving to the Olympic Stadium] either way and I am realistic because it may be something that needs to be done.
“The business plan with the costings is one of the things they will have to look at.”
West Ham are currently 16th in the Premier League, just four points above the relegation zone.
Sir Trevor said: ”I think the first thing for West Ham is they will have to stay up, then they would have to get a decision from the Olympic body and they would have to look to see if there is a realistic possibility of moving on.
“West Ham are very lucky to get 35,000 a week for their home games.
“They got a vital result at the weekend and that might help them stay in the Premier League.
Sir Trevor, who also had two spells as caretaker manager at West Ham and is a former chairman of Sport England before becoming Director of Football at the Football Association, admits that it will be difficult for anyone connected with the club to leave Upton Park.
“It [Upton Park] is one of those venues where people would like to see the team at the moment because of the history of the ground.”
West Ham have teamed up with Newham Council in a bid to become tenants of the Olympic Stadium after 2012.
The Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) began accepting proposals for future use of the venue last month.
West Ham’s new co-owners David Gold and David Sullivan took over the cash-strapped club in January and immediately confirmed their interest in relocating to the 80,000-capacity Olympic Stadium as they try to improve the club finances.
It is to be reduced to a 25,000-seater venue after the Games but the OPLC says it is staying open-minded about proposals – although it must have an athletic track as promised to the International Olympic Committee during London’s successful bid to host the Games.
Bidders have been asked to make proposals, which can be anything from sporting, community, education, visitor attraction and commercial uses, for the site in Stratford, East London.
The future use of the stadium will be settled by March 2011.
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