Exclusive by Hughie Southon
West Ham are making their possible first steps towards a full takeover of the London Stadium.
We reported earlier that the re-configuration of the west stand is entering its final stage with work on the London Stadium beginning towards the end of June.
When completed the new West Ham stand will incorporate 1,800 extra seats with the capacity increase going up to 62,500.
And Claretandhugh can reveal that the club is putting around £10 million towards the the costs over the next year in two tranches of £5 million.
That will take them beyond the March 2023 when the stadium embarrassment clause comes to an end with the owners.
This is usually the way entrepreneurial exercises are carried out and hopefully with athletics coming to an end and moving to Birmingham the stadium can become a “proper” football arena.
A Hammers source told us: “Nothing will happen until March 23a and the embarrassment clause ends but we can carry on inputting economically.”
It’s an obvious move once Commonwealth games are over and a sensible HQ for athletics established at Birmingham with a capacity andcrunning costs that athletics can afford. This lets the London Development Corporation off the massive financial liability of London Stadium. Hopefully we will have the financial clout with Kretinsky on board and possibly others to buy it. Ownership gives us stability along with a major capital asset!