Unbelievable to hand Olympic Stadium to West Ham, says Barry Hearn


Leyton Orient owner Barry Hearn has hit out at the London Legacy Development Corporation for the "massive, massive mistake" of granting West Ham anchor tenancy of the Olympic Stadium.

Hearn has been opposed to the Premier League club moving to the stadium, which is a stones-throw from the Matchroom Stadium, home of League One outfit Orient.

Following today's announcement that West Ham will commence a 99-year lease of the stadium from the 2016/17 season, Hearn maintains the move could cause irreparable damage to his club, with the 64-year-old believing the LLDC did not consider a ground-sharing agreement between the two clubs in question

"The LLDC have made a massive, massive mistake," he said. "They are my lawyer's words and not mine, in as far as they have ignored their own rules so we are going to challenge that with a judicial review in the High Court.


"What does the world legacy really mean? I hear the word from politicians all the time and I don't think they can even spell the word.

"It is just a game. Well we are not in a game, we are in a fight for survival and we have to do everything available to us to continue the fight."

The drawn-out process to name an anchor tenant has long been questioned by Matchroom Sport chairman Hearn and he is still left with queries following the announcement.

"It is a mess, the whole thing has been a mess for the last six years, horribly handled by lots of different people," he said.




"Although West Ham have been confirmed today as the tenants, there are still so many questions that need to be asked.



"West Ham are selling Upton Park but only contributing £15million to the stadium, should they be given a free home like this? I'm just asking a question.


If the judicial review falls in favour of Hearn it would mean the LLDC and West Ham would have to discuss the idea of ground-sharing the 54,000-seater stadium with Orient, something Hearn feels is crucial for the club.

"Their rules specify that all clubs must agree to the principle of teaming, ground-sharing," he added.

"Yet we have had no discussions about the ground-sharing opportunity which would solve Leyton Orient's problem in as far as we wouldn't be ostracised just down the road.

"We would be a part Olympic Park legacy and would have a chance to invest in our team and achieve our dreams."


Property search

ES Rentals

    ES Dating

    By clicking 'search' you are agreeing to our
    Terms of Use.

    Don't Miss

    Beat school

    Why Chase & Status are opening a free school in east London
    FISHbone - restaurant review

    Restaurant review

    Posh piscine at FISHbone
    The Spirits: Richard Godwin's cocktail adventures

    The Spirits

    Richard Godwin talks to Bompas and Carr about their latest experiment
    Miranda Hart, O2 Arena - comedy review

    Comedy review

    Miranda Hart at the O2 Arena
    Pictures: Party people - the stars out in London

    Party people

    The stars out in London
    Cara and Kate team up for Burberry

    Cara and Kate

    Cara Delevingne teams up with Kate Moss for Burberry campaign
    Souk up the sun in Fez


    Souk up the sun in Fez
    Hogging the limelight: Gervais gets a selfie with Miss Piggy

    Hogging the limelight

    Ricky Gervais gets a selfie with Miss Piggy
    Fay Maschler reviews Marani

    Restaurant review

    Fay Maschler reviews Marani

    Ashley Jensen
