West Ham to sue over Olympic Stadium bidding process claims

The Hammers said they were treating claims made by the Sunday newspaper yesterday morning “with the utmost seriousness”, and insisted they were “certain of the robustness” of their successful bid to take over the east London stadium following the 2012 games.

The club’s statement comes just days after the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC), which is in charge of securing the future of the Olympic site after the games, confirmed one of its employees had been suspended after it was discovered she was working as a consultant for West Ham during the stadium bidding process.

The woman, who is not being named, has been suspended with immediate effect while the potential clash of interests is investigated.

A West Ham spokesman said: “West Ham United can confirm the club are taking legal action in relation to allegations made in today’s Sunday Times.

“We are certain of the robustness of our successful bid for the Olympic Stadium.”

West Ham had been involved in a head-to-head bidding contest with Spurs to take over the site following the games next summer.

The OPLC board voted 14-0 back in February to make the Hammers the first choice to move into the £486m stadium.

Then on Friday the OPLC revealed it had suspended one of its employees following revelations about her work status.

The OPLC released a statement saying: “It has come to our attention that an employee of the Olympic Park Legacy Company has been undertaking paid consultancy work for West Ham United FC.

“The company had no knowledge of this work and no permission was given to undertake it.

“This individual had no involvement whatsoever in our stadium process.”

West Ham said it undertook an initial internal investigation which established that the work carried out by the individual was “not connected in any way to the bidding process for the Olympic Stadium, but procurement project management thereafter”.

The club added: “We are of the firm view that the integrity of the bidding process has not been compromised. We consider that the bidding process was robust and believe that remains the case.”

The club’s bid partner, local authority the London Borough of Newham, insisted everything had been above board throughout the entire process.

A spokesman for the council said: “Our joint bid with our partners West Ham is robust and will deliver a true community legacy.”

He said that both West Ham and Newham had been assured that the procurement exercise had been fully authorised.

“The work that was procured by West Ham was of significant quantity.

“Neither party has ever sought or received any advantageous information in regard to the stadium bid.

“Both West Ham and the OPLC will now conduct detailed, robust investigations and we will cooperate fully with both.”