Hammers Winning Olympic Battle

Tottenham Hotspur soccer club’s allegation that an Olympic Park Legacy Company employee may have corrupted the bidding process for future use of the London Olympic stadium is groundless, according to independent auditors Moore Stephens.

The OPLC, which commissioned the investigation after it was revealed that West Ham soccer club paid an OPLC director £20,000 for consultancy work during the bidding process, says there’s no need to reconsider West Ham’s position as the preferred bidder.

The investigation considered the position of OPLC director Dionne Knight, the partner of West Ham director Ian Tompkins, who had apparently been moonlighting for the soccer club.

The OPLC said Aug. 22 the Moore Stephens inquiry found no evidence that Knight influenced the stadium bidding process.

It said there was no evidence that she had access to confidential information or that she’d passed any such information to West Ham.

The inquiry findings were announced as the OPLC was about to face a further legal challenge from Tottenham and Leyton Orient in the High Court Aug. 24.

Tottenham is seeking a judicial review of the OPLC’s decision to choose West Ham to run the stadium after the 2012 Games, while both clubs are challenging Newham Council’s involvement as a partner in the West Ham bid.

West Ham’s bid is also being made with Live Nation, which would provide entertainment events for the stadium, while AEG is a partner in the Tottenham bid.