West Ham’s future questioned as complainant comes forward

The original complainant of the 'state aid' issue with West Ham and the Olympic Stadium has told Sky Sports News HQ why he spoke up.

Architect Steve Lawrence made the inital complaint about a potential contravention of European law on state aid three years ago as the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) did not obtain prior approval from European Commission before signing the deal with West Ham. 

The football club, who deny any wrongdoing, were awarded a 99-year licence to rent the stadium last year and will pay £15m towards conversion costs.

"I made the original complaint because it was obvious to me that the proposals contravened state aid law and it was proceeding and going too fast," Lawrence told Sky Sports News HQ.

"It's very difficult to see how this cannot be state aid. The LLDC have made a strong case for the aid being compatible with the internal market, they said they've been through an open and transparent competitive procedure to get a license. Under state aid law that’s a necessary component but it's not sufficient to actually prove that there's no state aid.

"If there is an investigation and illegal state aid is proved, then the UK government will be required by the European Union to recover that aid from the recipient - which could be a great deal of money.

"I have asked the LLDC to go through the formal procedure with the commissioner and actually inform the commission that there is the possibility of state aid - if there's nothing to hide, why not make the submission."

Andrew Boff, a representative from the London Assembly, has also questioned the move and said there could be 'chaos' if the European Commission rule against it.

"A reference needs to be made now and it needs to be rubber stamped by the EU Commission. I can't picture the chaos there would be from the EC ruling against these arrangements and West Ham having to leave the Olympic Stadium and be homeless. That's not a good future for the club."

West Ham, however, are adamant no laws have been broken and Hammers vice-chairman Baroness Brady said the matter is for the LLDC as that is who Lawrence sent his complaint to, not the football club.

"The suggestion that we're subsidised is categorically wrong - we pay our way in that stadium," said Brady. "The LLDC did a robust bidding procedure, there were four bids and ours was the best offer in financial terms and in terms of legacy.

"We are making a huge contribution to the conversion and a huge contribution to the revenue. Without us there's no lynchpin in the stadium to create the jobs and to create the legacy. We're confident we haven't done anything wrong."