West Ham have responded to Barry Hearn's view that a move to the Olympic Stadium could be disastrous.
Leyton Orient chairman warns of West Ham's demise
West Ham have responded to Leyton Orient chairman Barry Hearn's comments that a move to the Olympic Stadium could signal their demise.
The Hammers, along with three other unnamed rivals, submitted applications to lease the stadium in Stratford earlier on Friday.
Leyton Orient officially withdrew from the campaign but chairman Hearn has offered a word of warning about what the future could hold for West Ham.
West Ham won the original contest to move to the stadium last year, but that deal collapsed following a number of complaints and the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) decided to start the process again, instead offering candidates a temporary lease, rather than permanent residency.
The Championship club have applied for a 99-year lease - the maximum on offer - but insist they will only move there if the stadium is converted to a 'world-class' 60,000-seater football ground after the 2012 Games.
One gripe West Ham fans have is the running track will remain at the stadium as part of the OPLC's commitment to ensuring an athletics legacy in the capital.
The Hammers are confident they will be able to fill the stadium regularly and create a vibrant atmosphere to match the one they currently have at Upton Park.
But Hearn said: "This represents a quantum change in the experience of a football punter and frankly it could be the demise of West Ham if they move there.
"It's a huge slap in the face to their fans and their history.
Pink flamingo
"The stadium is a magnificent athletics stadium, a magnificent building. It's just not built for football.
"The pitch is 40 to 50 yards away from the front row of seats. I personally find that abhorrent.
"It is designed for athletics. Football grounds have steep stands but this one doesn't. The view from the lower tier is dreadful.
"It's not a white elephant. It's a white elephant that they're trying to make into a pink flamingo.
"If you're talking about atmosphere, then forget it.
"You would have to rebuild the entire stadium to create any atmosphere in that place."
West Ham believe that leaving Upton Park - their home for the last 108 years - to move to Stratford is 'an opportunity too good to miss'.
Vision
And a statement from the Hammers on Friday night read: "While others spend their time speculating on our plans we are focusing only on the long-term prosperity of our great club and how we can take it to the next level for the benefit of our loyal and deserving fans.
"We will ensure that we make our vision a reality should we get the opportunity to do so.
"Our aim is to sell out a 60,000 stadium and we have a plan to do it.
"Other people's five favourite words might be 'What's in it for me', while West Ham's are 'What's in it for us'.
"We want a world-class stadium fit for football, not the stadium that is there today, but one that will be first-class for football in 2014.
"To have no vision is to have no dream. We have the vision and we'll realise the dream."
