West Ham are one of four parties who have submitted a formal bid to move into the ground after the Olympic and Paralympic Games, therefore leaving their Upton Park home.

Their attempts to move into the Olympic Stadium have been troubled, however. Having originally won the right to take over the Stadium last year, a legal challenge from Tottenham Hotspur and Leyton Orient led to the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) withdrawing from negotiations and re-starting the tender process.

Akabusi (pictured), who won three Olympic medals during his glittering career, including bronze in the 400 metres hurdles at Barcelona in 1992, describes himself as "claret and blue through and through", and told insidethegames that they had to move with the times and make the move.

"When I started watching West Ham, [Upton Park] was a lovely little stadium," he said.

"Now it's a bit standard and when we go to the Olympic Stadium in another 10 years it will be home.

"You have to keep on moving."



Akabusi, who last year stopped outside the Olympic Stadium during a charity bike ride to raise money for children in Africa and Nigeria, also believes that the distance of the fans from the pitch will not be an issue, despite some saying that the running track around the pitch will take away from the atmosphere of a football match.

"When I was a kid I went to watch German football," he said.

"They had tracks, fences and all sorts – you get used to the environment you're in.

"You've got to move with the times...it will be great for West Ham."

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