Leyton Orient chairman Barry Hearn has promised to keep battling to overturn the Olympic Stadium decision.
Earlier this month the government announced that West Ham would occupy the stadium after the London 2012 games – a move that Hearn says will put Orient out of business.
Hearn claims West Ham’s move could bankrupt his club. Photo: Leyton Orient
Hearn believes that the decision contravenes Premier League rules as well as European legislation and is warning his opponents to prepare for a prolonged battle over the stadium.
Premier League rules state that a club can’t move nearer to a neighbouring club if it adversly effects the other club. And Hearn believes the Hammers’ occupation of the stadium will inevitably harm his club, which is only one tube stop away from the Olmypic Stadium.
Speaking to the Hackney Post he said: “I am not going to stand by and watch us being bullied out of existence by people who don’t understand their own rules, in the case of the Premier League, or don’t understand the legal rules in European and UK law – and they are going to be reminded of it.
“We are not going to roll over, we are going to stand up for the Orient and fight our corner.”
“We know the odds are against us because it’s a David vrs Goliath struggle, but the East End has survived a lot of things over the years, whether it’s the Blitz, unemployment or the recession.
“We have a history of surviving against the odds and we are fighting for our survival again.
“They will have a hell of a fight on their hands because I will not be giving up on this.
“I have no choice here – either I try and stay in business and fight or give up and roll over and die. And I don’t choose to roll-over and die.”
Orient’s fifth round FA Cup heroics, where they earned a replay against Arsenal at the Emirates after a 1-1 draw at Brisbane Road, was bad news for those wanting to silence him, Hearn claims.
“The worst thing that could have happened to these people – the government included – was Jonathan Tehoue scoring an equaliser in the 88th minute against Arsenal. That gave me £1m that I wasn’t expecting, so legal fees are not a problem.”
Hearn’s lawyers are currently drawing up papers for a judicial review which they will lodge with the High Court in the next few weeks.
It will be up to the judge to decide whether to grant or dismiss Orient’s review request. If upheld the government and Olympic Park Legacy Committee (OPLC) will have to reconsider West Ham’s proposed tenancy. If rejected West Ham will remain in the Olympic Stadium.
Earlier this week OPLC chairwoman Baroness Ford said it was “inconceivable” that the O’s would be allowed to move onto the Olympic Park site.
However, Hearn is taking “her comments with a pinch of salt”. He said: “Two years ago Baroness Ford would have said it was inconceivable that a Premier League football club would be in the Olympic Stadium. People change, views change, policies change.”
Hearn has warned that the club may also have to think about relocating out of East London. However, for now his main aim is making sure his views on the current decision are heard.
“The process has been fundamentally flawed,” said Hearn. “They [the government and OPLC] have not asked the relevant questions they are under obligation to ask and that is, how does granting West Ham the stadium affect local businesses – including Leyton Orient?
“They have never made any inquiry whatsoever, which is terribly disrespectful and is a typical example of bullying tactics where the little man is brushed away.
“I think we have rights on our side and the moral high ground because we are a small community club that has been in business for 130 years and we deserve better than the treatment we have had.”
Hearn is keen to stress that his frustration lies with the government and the Premier League, not West Ham, who he says are merely doing what is best for their club, which is what he is also trying to do.
He said: “This is a government that talks about the ‘Big Society’, community and family values, but they have completely ignored all that by rubber-stamping West Ham’s occupancy.”
