Boris Johnsons 17m bung to Tottenham claims Barry Hearn

Last updated : 29 September 2011 By Daily Mail

Last month Spurs won the right to challenge the decision to award the 2012 Olympic Stadium to rivals West Ham.

Bird's eye view: West Ham are set to move into the Olympic Stadium after the Games

Tottenham were snubbed by the Olympic Park Legacy Company in favour of a joint bid from West Ham and Newham Council.

But Spurs and its partner, Leyton Orient, secured a judicial review at the second attempt after claiming the decision was unfair. The full hearing is due to begin on October 18.

But Orient chairman Barry Hearn has now pointed the finger at London Mayor Johnson by claiming he is trying to brush the dispute under the carpet.

Under the carpet: Hearn (right) has accused Johnson of offering a 'bung' to Spurs

Tottenham have been given planning permission to build a new stadium at Northumberland Park within the borough of Haringey, close to their current ground at White Hart Lane.

The Greater London Authority and Haringey Council have put forward a joint offer of ?17m to help with infrastructure improvements as part of the overall regeneration of the site and Johnson has now urged Spurs to proceed with the project.

Hearn told talkSPORT: 'Boris has made his move to try and placate Tottenham and, if I'm being cynical, it looks like a bung just to get him out of a court case. I come from the real world and I can recognise a bung when I see it.

Vision: An artist's impression of Spurs' plans for a new stadium in Tottenham

'We're in the High Court in mid-October against Newham Borough Council and against the OPLC as well, to claim state subsidy that's affecting a resident business.

'We have various rules - purportedly - that support us, with the Football League and the Premier League. We have the question of European Commission and subsidy by Newham Borough Council and frankly West Ham are getting a great deal.

'(West Ham co-owner) David Gold said, and I quote: "We know the stadium's not perfect but this is a ?600m stadium and we're getting it for ?30m, so it's too good a deal to turn down."

'Well, good luck to him, but if that's not state aid then I don't know what is. What West Ham do is up to them and what Tottenham do is up to them.

'But I don't think there's any doubt that if West Ham do take off they'll put us out of business. The one little outfit that's being completely overlooked is little Leyton Orient Football Club, and the community work they do, which is supposed to be so important in the world in which we live. We seem to be the forgotten tribe of the East End.

'The Premier League has got rules they've not understood. They're hoping we'll go away quietly, but anyone who knows me knows that 'quiet' is not a word that features in my vocabulary.'

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Source: Daily Mail

Source: Daily Mail