West Ham manager Sam Allardyce issues Olympic Stadium warning

Stadium: The failure to secure a permanent tenant for the £486m Olympic Stadium has been a major hiccup in Locog’s legacy aims. Earlier efforts ended in High Court recriminations involving West Ham, Tottenham Hotspur and Leyton Orient. Athletics was to be (AP)

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has warned London's Olympic Stadium could become a "white elephant" if his side are not allowed to relocate there.

The Stratford venue has been the centre of a glorious fortnight of sport, culminating in last night's spectacular closing ceremony.

But its future has long been the subject of debate, with the Hammers initially denied tenancy last October following a legal dispute involving Tottenham and Leyton Orient.

The need to preserve a home for athletics at the stadium was central to London 2012's legacy aims, but Allardyce insists the stadium and surrounding park will fall into decline without the regular use provided by Premier League football.

He told the Times: "If they keep it for athletics, the only time it will ever get a big crowd again after the Olympics is when they hold the World Championships there in five years' time.

"You only have to look around the world at some of the Olympic Stadiums that have been built. They're white elephants now. There are weeds growing there. Look at the 'Bird's Nest' in Beijing. Look at Athens.

"The Olympic Park is a fantastic place, but it can't be left to rack and ruin. If a club with the history and fanbase and potential of West Ham don't go there, the concern would be that the park is left empty the vast majority of the time.

"I can understand some West Ham fans feeling that they don't want to leave the history and tradition of Upton Park, but it's an incredible opportunity for the club to move forward."

PA