Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Leyton Orient chairman Barry Hearn has written to Prime Minister David Cameron and London Mayor Boris Johnson asking them to look again at the decision to award West Ham the Olympic Stadium and is taking legal advice over the possibility of a judicial review.
West Ham were named the preferred bidders by the Olympic Park Legacy Committee - a decision which must still be ratified - but as the club closest to the site, Orient believe their very existence would be threatened by the arrival of the Hammers.
Hearn is in talks with his legal team about a judicial review, which could significantly delay the process of confirming West Ham's tenancy, and has outlined his concerns to Cameron and Johnson as well as Jeremy Hunt, secretary of state for Culture, Media and Sport, and Hugh Robertson, Minister for Sport and the Olympics.
Hearn said: "It's a question of due process and whether the Olympic Park Legacy Committee, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and even the Prime Minister have given consideration to Leyton Orient in these discussions."
Hearn continued: "The government has a responsibility to take into account all the effects of any ruling they take.
"We are awaiting what I assume is a rubber-stamp decision from Boris Johnson and the DCMS to award West Ham the stadium.
"But I find it incredible they would even consider making the decision before undergoing due process in regard to the effect on the incumbent football club."
Hearn's major concern is with the suggestions from West Ham that they would offer free and heavily discounted tickets upon their arrival in the new ground.
Their current average attendance is just over 30,000, with the Olympic Stadium likely to hold around double that after re-development.
Hearn fears the incentives on offer to locals to fill the ground could force his club, based within a mile of the Olympic site, to the wall.
"The comments last week about the number of complimentary tickets available and family tickets for the price of a single ticket have grave implications for our club," Hearn said.
"Leyton Orient has been in existence for 130 years and by any stretch of the imagination we are the incumbent club.
"To have a giant like West Ham on our doorstep offering discounted and free tickets would seriously bring into question the survival of Leyton Orient.
"We have asked our lawyers about the benefits or otherwise of a full judicial review where we will be challenging the right of the government to make that decision.
"I have written to David Cameron, Boris Johnson, Hugh Robertson and Jeremy Hunt asking them not to rubber-stamp West Ham's move at this stage and at least give us the respect, the decency and the right to put our case forward about the continuation of our football club."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments