West Ham co-chairman David Gold has told TalkSport today that the club's move tot he olympic Stadium in Stratford is bearing down upon us and could be confirmed in the next two weeks. The 76 year old stated this morning that he is "embarrassed," habing tweeted on a umber of occasions that the deal will be sealed on a specific date, only for the plan to suffer a set-back- the latest of which being a delay with the LLDC over conversion costs and a deal with Newham Council in relation to that. The latest date however, is March 16; twelve days from today- according to Gold, anyway.
The Hammers co-chairman said on TalkSport's Keys and Gray show that the club will only move to the Olympic Stadium if it is "fit for use," and revealed his own personal distaste for the running track; something which has been a bugbear for much of the club's fanbase who oppose the move, saying that "I won't go there if I have to look over a running track." He made the point that the stadium needs a football club to keep the athletics side of it ticking over, commenting that "most Olympic stadiums have failed ebcause they haven't embraced the legacy.. athletics needs football to keep it going. We have a stadium here- albeit the wrong size and shape and this is a one in a lifetime opportunity for the club."
While Gold could not go into any more detail owing to the confidentiality agreement he and fellow co-chairman David Sullivan have signed, this is surely good news for us Irons. I'm struggling to picture the West Ham fan who would want a running track round the pitch and it's great to hear from the chairman that he doesn't want it either. It's also good to hear some frank views on the stadium from Gold and not simply club propaganda being issued as has been the case with West Ham chairmen in the past. Big announcement expected in the coming days thenn- we'll keep you posted, as ever.
By Alex Shilling, News Editor
@alexshilling
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