Orient Want Hammers Decision Delayed

Barry Hearn, chairman of League One team Leyton Orient, has written to Prime Minister David Cameron asking him to look at the decision to award the London Olympic Stadium to West Ham.

The chairman is concerned that if West Ham were to move to the stadium then the existence of Leyton Orient, the club closest to the ground, could be threatened.

Hearn has reportedly requested that Cameron and mayor of London Boris Johnson, not to rubber-stamp the move, so that they can have time to put their case forward.

Media reports indicate that Hearn is consulting with lawyers about a possible judicial review, which could significantly delay the process of confirming West Ham’s tenancy at the new stadium.

Hearn said: ‘How on earth has nobody even considered us and how on earth has the government or Premier League, or anybody else, not even had the respect to discuss it with us?’

‘It’s a question of due process and whether the Olympic Park Legacy Committee, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and even the Prime Minister have given consideration to Leyton Orient in these discussions’.

The major worry for Leyton Orient is the speculation that if and when West Ham move into the stadium, they will offer heavily discounted tickets in order to fill the stadium, which could draw fans and revenue away from the League One club.

The average Premier League attendance this season is around 33,500, with the Olympic Stadium expected to hold around 60,000 following refurbishments after the 2012 Games.

Leyton Orient’s ground, the Matchroom Stadium, holds 9,271 spectators but currently averages less than 5,000.

West Ham was chosen as the preferred club for the Stadium last week. Read here.