By Duncan Mackay in London
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
October 2 – Tottenham Hotspur’s late decison to bid to take over the Olympic Stadium after London 2012 has come under fierce attack from Karren Brady, the vice-chairman of rivals West Ham United, and even the club’s local MP, David Lammy.
Tottenham’s decision to partner AEG, the American entertainment company considered to be West Ham’s main rivals for the tennancy, has angered Brady, who has accused them of acting underhanded.
“Their chairman Daniel Levy recently called me ‘one of his closest friends’,” Brady wrote in her weekly diary published in The Sun today.
“But he hasn’t mentioned the counter-bid.
“However, he wasn’t at our Saturday match and hasn’t been answering the phone to me.
“So perhaps that’s why.”
Tottentham are located more than eight miles from the site of the Olympic Stadium and Levy (pictured) has admitted that their decision to bid is a back-up plan in case their own proposals to redevelop White Hart Lane fall through.
Brady is dismissive of the reasoning.
“If Daniel fancies going into the Irons’ Den – Newham Borough – that’s up to him,” she wrote.
“No argument with competition but most importantly, he’s forgotten the unwritten Premier League rule preventing clubs moving from one borough to another.
“But that, I guess, is in the detail.
“[On Thursday] Haringey Council changed tack and granted Spurs planning permission to develop White Hart Lane, which, I suppose, gives him two irons in the fire.
“The difference between the bids is we want the stadium to be our home.
“It’s not a back-up plan.”
Lammy, meanwhile, has warned that Tottenham are risking jeopardising the club’s future if they abandon North London to move to Stratford.
“It seems entirely wrong-headed to be directing efforts to a stadium on the other side of London when there is a fantastic opportunity to redevelop their home into a world-class stadium,” said Lammy, the Labour MP for Tottenham.
“Football clubs belong at the heart of their communities – Tottenham fans would never forgive Spurs if they walk out of White Hart Lane.”
Contact the writer of this story at zib.l1734843371labto1734843371ofdlr1734843371owedi1734843371sni@y1734843371akcam1734843371.nacn1734843371ud1734843371
Related stories
October 2010: Spurs eye Olympic site despite getting new stadium go-ahead
December 2009: Exclusive – We will beat Olympic Stadium claim Tottenham
November 2009: Tottenham first London club to sign up for 2018 World Cup