Brady: we'll be tenants, not owners

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 a regular 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."