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LEYTON: Hearn hits back at 'patronising' West Ham (From This Is Local London)
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LEYTON: Hearn hits back at 'patronising' West Ham
2:39pm Monday 11th June 2012 in League One
By Daniel Binns, Senior reporter
Leyton Orient chairman Barry Hearn described West Ham's comments as patronising.
LEYTON Orient Chairman Barry Hearn has hit back at rival club West Ham after it mocked his suggestion that the two football teams could share the Olympic stadium after the Games.
The O's fear they will lose fans and go out of business if a high-profile team moves into the arena, which is less than a mile from their current ground in Brisbane Road, Leyton.
In an earlier interview with the Waltham Forest Guardian, Mr Hearn said sharing the stadium in Stratford would be a "lesser of evils" and ensure the survival of Leyton Orient.
But West Ham responded in a statement by saying it was "amused" by Mr Hearn's "ever-changing position".
Mr Hearn previously said the stadium was not suitable for watching football but has changed his mind following suggestions that retractable seating could be built over the athletics track.
In a new statement released at the weekend, Mr Hearn attacked West Ham and called on Olympic legacy bosses to take him seriously.
He said: "West Ham's statement last week which referred to my 'ever-changing position' is patronising to say the least.
"A major club moving on to our doorstep would undoubtedly damage us."
He added: "I am glad West Ham think we are providing them with a constant source of amusement - we are a small community club with 130 years of history fighting to stay in business and they need to understand that we shall continue to challenge any decision that places the future of our football club in doubt.
"We deserve proper consideration and respect."
Mr Hearn said he is due to meet and discuss his proposals with Olympic legacy bosses, who will make the final decision on who runs the stadium after the Games.
He added that fans will be fully consulted on any possible changes.
A deal on who will run the stadium post-Games is expected to be signed in October.
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Comments(8)
mdj
says...
5:23pm Mon 11 Jun 12
It's always been a mystery to me why fans of so many clubs are happy to be treated as farm stock by the club owners, instead of insisting in a share of the ownership themselves. They provide the lion's share of the money, after all.
trickyO
says...
7:01pm Mon 11 Jun 12
Stratford_is_in_Newham
says...
8:09pm Mon 11 Jun 12
Does Barry Hearn actually know his clubs history?!!
Stratford is on the doorstep of West Ham. It's West Ham heartland and is also in the borough of Newham unlike Orient who play in the borough of Waltham Forest. I really don't understand Hearns claim the club will go out of business when Orient already has West Ham and Spurs on it's doorstep yet still survives. Many West Ham fans go to Brisbane Road when their team is playing away. Hearns desperate media conduct is more about financial gain than it is about the future of Leyton Orient.
englandsnumber6
says...
7:43am Tue 12 Jun 12
Ratigan
says...
9:45am Tue 12 Jun 12
englandsnumber6
says...
10:18am Wed 13 Jun 12
Ratigan
says...
11:10am Thu 14 Jun 12
My point about Brisbane Road is that is an ideal ground for a club with an average home attendance of 4,000. A move to the Hockey Stadium or to share the Olympic Stadium are not necessary and would be counter productive. My proble is the cynicism Hearn is using to try and portray West Ham as the bad guys by constantly spouting out misleading information. I think his true motives are pretty clear and Orient supporters deserve much better.
StuFromSaturday says...
3:55pm Mon 11 Jun 12
1) West Ham are already on your doorstep. It never has, and never will make any difference moving a couple of miles closer.
2) If you genuinely think your fans are likely to just switch and support the bigger club, then you don't have much faith in your fans.
3) Your position has been and continues to be patronising to everyone concerned. You continue to conduct your business in the media. If I was a Leyton Orient supporter - which I most certainly am not - I would have to agree with West Ham's statement.
You are an embarrassment.