West Ham United owners express delight at Olympic Stadium deal

By James Crook

March 23 - West Ham United owners David Gold and David Sullivan have expressed their delight at securing a deal which will see the club become permanent tenants of the Olympic Stadium in London.

The Premier League club have agreed the much drawn-out deal with the Mayor's Legacy Corporation and Newham Council, which will see the Premier League side move into the stadium, which will have a 54,000-capacity upon completion, at the beginning of the 2016-2017 season.

"This is very exciting, I'm absolutely thrilled" said Gold (pictured top).

"This is a great deal for London and a great deal for the country in-fact.

"It will produce jobs when the Stadium is renovated and made fit for purpose, and there will be jobs ongoing."

Sullivan also expressed his excitement at getting the deal done after a long negotiation process, also reserving praise for those involved in the deal, particularly West Ham chair Karren Brady.

"I would like to thank Karren who's done 98 per cent of the stuff on this," he said

"It will be a smashing stadium at the end, and I'd like to thank [London Mayor] Boris [Johnson] and all his people.

"It's a great deal for everyone."

West Ham have played their home games at the Boleyn Ground, colloquially known as Upton Park, since 1904, and there has been a somewhat mixed response from fans; some of whom are reluctant to see the club leave their long-term home to move to the Olympic Stadium.