Hearn hopes for groundshare

Leyton Orient chairman Barry Hearn has not given up hope that his club could end up sharing the Olympic Stadium with West Ham.

Last Updated: 05/12/12 at 16:02 Post Comment    Bet with SkyBet  Premier League. Click here to bet.

Barry Hearn: Still hopeful O's can share Olympic Stadium

Barry Hearn: Still hopeful O's can share Olympic Stadium

The Hammers have been made preferred bidders by the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) to become the new tenants of the stadium, a decision which did not surprise Hearn.

But Hearn says West Ham's move to Stratford would have a hugely negative impact on the O's.

And he believes there is a long way to go before the agreement is signed, sealed and delivered and insists Leyton Orient will explore every avenue before conceding defeat.

"I'm disappointed," he told Sky Sports News, "because it was our dream to move into the Olympic Stadium. This is not the best news I have ever had in my life. But I am not going to panic. There are certain questions to be asked about West Ham moving so close to us.

"I don't understand what harm there would be in a major Premier League club like West Ham and a community club like ours sharing the Olympic Stadium. It happens in France, it happens in Germany, it ticks a lot of boxes.

"And it would show that it's not just about cash. But I'm afraid in these difficult times, and with taxpayers money involved, it is all about cash. That's sad.

"We have to take stock of the situation and move on. We're up for ground-sharing. I understand West Ham's football tenancy is not necessarily exclusive.

"We're disappointed at stage one, but whose to say about stage two.

"One of the conditions of West Ham being the preferred bidder is that is cleared with the relevant football authorities. That's the key line. We believe it has not been cleared with the relevant football authorities to the satisfaction of Leyton Orient.

"Clearly if West Ham are moving to the Olympic Park, which is 750 feet away from our stadium, it's very difficult to believe that new fans in our local population will enter into any season ticket applications if they have a Premier League team on their doorstep - which wasn't there before - in a stadium that which has a capacity where they will be able to offer fabulously discounted deals.

"Ask yourself - if you were a kid in the Leyton area and West Ham were in the Olympic Stadium with spare capacity, where would you go?

"We are halfway through a dispute with the Premier League on the rules. They clearly feel they have done enough of an inquiry to grant West Ham permission. We feel they haven't."

Bet with SkyBet  Premier League. Click here to bet.

Football365 Facebook Fan Page

The Football365 fan page is a great place to meet like minded people, have football related discussions and make new friends.

Related News

Sky Bet

    • Retrieving latest Sky Bet odds

Most Commented

Readers' Comments

Y

et another example of Cameron's broken Britton.

varicoseregent
Britton prepares for surgery

I

ve heard his older brother might be joining as part of the deal too... Roland.

wezmond
West Ham sign defender Rat

I

think it's time anyway. That hat must smell awful by now. Time for a change and a rinse

levi
Pulis' Stoke exit confirmed

Footer 365

TP disappointed to leave Stoke

Tony Pulis is disappointed to have left Stoke but understands the board's wish to take the club in a different direction.

Former Aston Villa captain Stiliyan Petrov to take up coaching role at the club

Aston Villa have confirmed that Stiliyan Petrov will take up a coaching role with the club.

Toon not keen on Carroll

Newcastle will not pursue their interest in re-signing Liverpool striker Andy Carroll this summer.

Mail Box

Mails: Jol Out And Other Demands...

You might notice that we haven't included a single mail about teams in pubs, because most of them were terrible. Instead we have a disgruntled Fulham fan and Scouse maths...

A Night In The Pub With Aston Villa...

Villa are the latest team to get the pub treatment, while the morning mailbox also includes missives on Tony Pulis leaving Stoke and Chelsea's future under Jose Mourinho...

© 2013 British Sky Broadcasting Ltd. All Rights Reserved