HAMMERS HAPPY TO BUY STADIUM

...but only if athletics is ditched, hints Brady

West HAm would be willing to explore the option of buying the London stadium outright, allowing the Premier League club to escape their precarious arrangement with their landlords.

Vice-chairman Karren Brady yesterday appeared before the London Assembly to discuss the 60,000- capacity stadium, which they rent for £3million per year.

Brady revealed the club have come to a compromise with the London Legacy development Corporation over the green track cover, which will be claret with West Ham badges and a dark blue border.

But she criticised the LLdC’s commercial and financial shortcomings before saying the venue would have to become a ‘dedicated football stadium’ for them to purchase it.

‘i think the London stadium craves direction,’ Brady said. ‘it really should have the commercial expertise it deserves. i don’t think it is anywhere near realising its full potential.

‘When we first wanted to move into the stadium, we offered to buy it, which meant we would run it, which meant we would have been responsible for all of the costs — and that was rejected.

‘that (buying the stadium) is certainty something we would look at. if it was to become a dedicated football stadium, with pop concerts, maybe the occasional rugby match, that might be something we are interested in. the problem for this stadium is the cost of the seat moves for athletics. that is what drains this proposition of all its revenue.’

the LLdC previously claimed the cost per home match was £250,000 to the taxpayer. Brady said the landlords have told her the cost is actually £43,000 which the Assembly promised to investigate.

‘the biggest issue is this constant portrayal that West Ham’s rent is too low,’ Brady said. ‘the first time Gerry murphy (the LLdC’s executive director of finance) sat in front of this committee, she said the loss per match was £250,000. then it came down to £84,000.

‘On the figures she gave to me last night, it is £43,000. i still don’t think those numbers are right, i have to say.’