The football club's chairman, Barry Hearn, has threatened legal action over West Ham United's proposed move to the Olympic Stadium, which was recommended to the Government and the Mayor of London by the OPLC.

He believes the Premiership outfit's move to the nearby venue could cost his League One club up to £1.5 million ($2.4 million) a year.

But Hearn has suggested he will drop his threat of legal action if the authorities help Orient build a new 15,000-seater stadium at nearby Eton Manor on the Olympic Park.

This is currently being redeveloped and is due to host three temporary swimming training pools for aquatics during the Olympics and then wheelchair tennis during the Paralympics.

The Eton Manor facilities, run by the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, will be able to accommodate elite hockey events for up to 15,000 spectators, and while Lee Valley will have the definitive say on what happens at Eton Manor after London 2012, Ford is fully against the move.

"I actually think that is inconceivable that you put two football stadia in the Olympic Park," Ford told the London Assembly here at City Hall today.

"I mean, this is much-needed recreational, employment and housing space for the area of East London.

"I made that point to the chairman of Leyton Orient when we wrote to him recently.

"This isn't land that is up for grabs that is not earmarked for anything else.

"It is very clearly earmarked in the master plan for specific legacy purposes set out long ago."

Hearn strongly favours a move to Eton Manor - he feels a financial settlement for Leyton Orient will not guarantee the survival of the club as young fans will slowly divert to West Ham.

"To compete we would have to move out of the area completely or be housed in the Olympic Park itself," Hearn said earlier this month.

"That way we could have the same facilities and transport links that West Ham would have and then there would be a level playing field for us to compete on.

"There are options such as moving into the hockey stadium or building a new venue at Eton Manor playing fields.

"These are real suggestions we are looking at to resolve this issue."

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