Karren Brady has delivered the ultimate interview on the Olympic Stadium and it flattens the ‘ waste of taxpayers money’ argument as completely as Tottenham would have flattened the OS itself.
The world and his wife – along with eight London Supporters Trusts – have attacked a deal which saw the Irons accepted as anchor tenants.
The Supporters Groups have launched a petition in pursuit of a public inquiry which if successful would waste millions more of taxpayers’ money.
But speaking to the Daily Mail, the Hammers vice chairman has presented an irresistible reasoning as to why they have all got it so wrong.
Led by the Barry Hearn and the BBC’s Dan Roan the near obsessional chorus of disapproval from jealous fans, this has become the bore of the century.
But for ClaretanHugh Ms Brady has dismissed their criticisms at a stroke declaring: “Anyone could have bought this. Leyton Orient, the Qataris, anyone.
“But nobody saw it, nobody saw the potential here. So roll back that movie without West Ham. Taxpayers’ money would have poured into a big hole, been concreted over and never seen again.”
She points out quite accurately that now the stadium is nearly finished “everyone recognises what is has become the longest running and says it’s a steal”
Her point however is that this was most certainly not the case during negotiations and that there was no queue of rival buyers? Without West Ham this would have been pulled down. It was going to be 25,000 with no roof.
She adds: “What would have happened then? Who would have come to that stadium? That’s a legacy? Tottenham just wanted to flatten it and start again. So no Olympic Stadium at all. This is going to be an asset, a national asset. We shouldn’t have to keep justifying ourselves.’
There’s much more and its well worth a read but that for us cuts to the heart of the matter and ClaretandHugh has held the same position throughout this saga.
West Ham has done absolutely nothing wrong – they made a bid…it was accepted. All other questions should be addressed to the London Legacy Development Corporation.
To be fair to Kevin he is entitled to have an opinion for or against the manager. The problem Kevin is that you are far to quick to judge. I remind you only 3 games unless you are including Europe as part of your gripe which could possibly be justified. You are right in some ways. We have regressed the last couple of games but for me this is a result of our two fullbacks both brilliant last year, struggling to understand the slaven bilic coaching manual and not so much the fault of the manager himself. Alright maybe the tactics and starting lineup and substitutions haven’t been the best but we have to give him more time. He has no experience of managing in the premier league remember. Neither had any of his coaching staff.
Crikey Kevin,i was never a man who was against or for Sam,i always supported him as he was our manager but it takes a pretty blinkered fan or unknowledgable one not to realise we were in a real pickle from the start of the year onwards.Results prove it.To start a one man campaign against Bilic after three games is rather silly i must say.At least have the decency to realise much of this was Sam & the players doing last season as well,it hasnt just happened since Slaven Bilic has arrived.
No Kevin is right,we have regressed,what he fails to mention is that the regression started in the new year when his King Sam was managing.So Kevin is correct,just wont admit when the regression started.For him it started under Bilic.Well no Kevin it started last season.Why the f*ck do you think we never won away for 5 months or 3 games from january onwards! Was it because we were progressing.What a crock of crap.
If winning 3 games in 23 is what you call progressive Kevin you must live in a strange dream world!!
Oh god,here we go again.Kevin the man who withdraws his support of the manager after three games.Now not only is Bilic clueless but the chairmen are as well.Wish there was a snooze button we could use on you Kevin!! Now you want Brady to address the problems on the field of play.Yawn!!!!
Karren Brady is a Brick worth her own weight in Gold .. The two David’s would suffer to do anything sensible without Her ..
Now only needs that Karren addresses the problem on the Field of Play ; because BILIC and the Dave’s seem clueless right now .
We have gone from progressive to regressive in a very short time .
Starting with Europe & finishing with loseing badly at home badly to two teams that we should have swallowed whole .
Too easy to blame defensive errors when surely , it’s the ( non existent ) system that is completely and hopelessly wrong .
Letting Downing go , Lee loaned out & talk of selling Collins ,,, WTF .
Under these conditions West Ham are looking like relegation candidates .
If BILIC can’t get his team to play like a team , then we are lost with only three games in .
Does’nt look good however you look at it … Kevin Nolan on the field of play is a loseing mentality and should be avoided . We can’t continue to play with the defence pushed so high up because we do not gave the pace to recover and cover without wingers . Just why BILIC continues with Nolan is a Mystery ,,, Noble is ok he needs a better partner .
But BILIC is playing a dangerous game and supporters will no doubt begin to doubt his credentials … As I have .. This is NOT TURKEY ,, this is England and the Premiership .
Lol,everyone on here & wetpants knows Rugby has an obsession with money when it comes to Brady & Nolans earnings,lol,same sh!t,different day 😀
So what? Shes one of the uk’s most successful business women and without her the 2 daves wouldnt have a clue. £1m well spent Id say.
And she got a million pound bonus on the basis of that argument.
Nice one Hugh – Karren Brady nailed the argument, without West Ham it would be a White Elephant not potentially a thriving success in the heart of the East End.