London rivalry has taken on a whole new meaning as a row between West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur seems to be hotting up.
West Ham recently negotiated a 99 year lease starting in the 2016-17 English football season to use the former Olympic stadium as their home ground.
Their North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur are looking to request that their ground share with West Ham for a season while their own new stadium is being built.
West Ham’s Vice Chairman, Karren Brady, now Baroness Brady of Knightsbridge, has firmly opposed such a move, which has angered the London Legacy Development Corporation, who only recently came to an agreement with the Hammers after long and protracted negotiations.
The Legacy Board and the Lord Mayor of London are keen to see the tax-payer funded stadium paying its own way sooner rather than later and therefore would welcome the added income that would be generated by having Spurs as a co-tenant for one year. One anonymous figure in the original negations has been quoted as saying “Someone should be reminding West Ham tat they need to be flexible on this.”
It is believed that West Ham feel that they have the right to veto such a move even if Tottenham Hotspur or any other potential co-tenant agree a deal with the London Legacy Development Corporation. However those involved in the negotiations state that West Ham only have that right for the first season that they move from their current home at Upton Park. Tottenham are requesting to ground share after that first season.
This should certainly add some spice to this year’s fixtures.
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