Karren Brady said that West Ham "will not hesitate to take a legal route."GETTY IMAGES
Premier League side West Ham United's new legal dispute with the London Stadium's owner is "threatening to boil over" after club Vice-Chair Karren Brady accused the landlord of "underhand" behavior in refusing to reinstate the honors board in the ground, according to Martyn Ziegler of the LONDON TIMES. The board has had "pride of place in the mid tier of the West Stand for the past two seasons" but it was removed for the athletics events in the stadium during the summer. It should have been reinstated for the new season but stadium owner E20 has "refused to do so due to a dispute over who should pay the maintenance fees for the big screen." In the board's place at the Bournemouth match on Saturday was a London Stadium-branded board proclaiming "This Is For Everyone," in what some West Ham fans claim are "provocative" blue and white colors similar to those used by Tottenham. Brady said, "For the second year running, E20 have attempted to hold us to ransom and force us to pay a fee we are not liable for. The club simply cannot continue to yield to paying invented invoices year after year. ... We are frustrated and angry that our landlords should act in this underhand way and we will not hesitate to take a legal route to confirm our rights under the tenancy agreement" (LONDON TIMES, 8/23). In London, Jack Rosser reported West Ham has been "pursuing a change of the surround" -- which is currently green and covers the running track around the pitch -- for "almost a year." Suggestions have been made and rejected by both sides, with the London Legacy Development Corp. and E20 "not happy to agree to an all-claret design," while the club is "pushing to avoid blue astroturf." Having taken the matter public, Brady proposed a design, offered to pay an estimated £380,000 ($487,000) in costs and "set a 14-day deadline for a response." In a letter to the LLDC CEO, Brady wrote, "Following an expert determination, there needs to be a new, replacement track cover made of suitable material. Under the Concession Agreement, this is to be provided at the cost of E20. I have suggested a track cover design which is co-branded. This includes West Ham United claret and London Stadium blue" (EVENING STANDARD, 8/23).
