http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14128310 Sports Minister Hugh Robertson has appealed to Tottenham Hotspur not to put London's bid for the 2017 World Athletics Championship at risk. The football team is seeking a judicial review of the decision to award the stadium to West Ham after the Olympics. On 1 September, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) will announce candidate cities. If the legal action is continuing after then, the bid for the championships may have to be withdrawn. Mr Robertson said: "We need to confirm a bid by 1 September. "The key thing is if we can get Tottenham's and Leyton Orient's appeal through the High Court and, I would say, dismissed. "If the High Court is not settled we don't have a secure venue. That would make it very difficult to bid." West Ham United is due to move into the stadium, in Stratford, east London, in the summer of 2013. But Tottenham were unhappy with the processes which led to this decision and are seeking a judicial review into the roles of several other key parties involved. Tottenham's defeated bid for the stadium included removing the athletics track. He added: "I would hope Tottenham would see the greater good to London, maybe it's a fond hope. Tottenham Hotspur has not yet responded to Mr Robertson's comments. The Qatar capital of Doha is favourite to win the 2017 event with Budapest and an as yet unnamed Spanish city also competing.
**** him We had the better bid in every single respect for the OS and David Sullivan said he would remove the running track if West Ham won so there is no good reason for him to try and blackmail us into dropping the review of the shady and pitiful decision to give Wet Spam the OS
Ok Mr. Hugh Robertson back the redevelopment of WHL by allocating funding to improve the infrastructure. Use you clout to make it possible for Spurs and we might heed your whineing appeal.
Why do Spurs still want the OS if the NPD is a viable option ? - Is it just about trying to demand that Levy's point is heard? I can't see for one minute, the decision being reversed in Tottenham's favour. To me it seems like a fruitless battle that will do more harm to the club than good. If Levy digs his heels in to the extent that it ends up costing the UK the Athletics championships, he will make enemies in high places, including the Sports Minister, which could ultimately unravel the NPD plans. Is levy really taking Spurs down the route that all Spurs fans want? If it were my chairman doing this, the alarm bells would be ringing out loud.
To me it seems like a fruitless battle that will do more harm to the club than good. It has already born fruit with the backing of the honorable Boris for redevelopment funding. Levy knows what he is doing, I am confident of that, he dosen't miss tricks in the financial world.
The NPD clearly isn't viable as it involves developing areas other than WHL While the OS was decided on factors other than the best bid (which was clearly in Tottenham's favour, even without Sullivan's promise to get rid of the running track) The fact is that Tottenham have by far the best bid for the OS and any political interference in favour of West Ham, such as Robertson's, shows the blatant bias, corruption and law breaking
I don't think its about W.Ham with Levy, its a battle against the 3 stooges Gold, Sullivan and Droppy Drawers, and whatever he's up to, I hope its Brady that suffers...how on earth has she fooled Lord Sugar?
I think that Levy's just trying to make sure that the public grant for the NDP is granted and that West Ham have to stick to certain promises about the Olympic site. He's probably trying to get reimbursed for any money spent on the bid, too.
Lord Sugar is naive He thinks biased media is limited strictly to the Mail and never to left wing Labour papers
The NDP cannot be viable for Spurs without significant public funding. If it was just a case of building a stadium, that would be unacceptable even to most Spurs fans. The fact that Harringey and TFL want us to redevelop half the borough as well makes this necessery, or Spurs will end up with a stadium full of fans and no players to watch as we can't afford to buy them. (sound familiar Piskie?) If we get assurances that this funding will be forthcoming (in writing, I should imagine) I think he may ease off on OS. If none is there he will not, and there's a chance there will be a review and another bidding process, this time open and fair. The great and the good will not come out of it well if there is an enquiry and I reckon Levy will get what he wants. As for Levy taking a route that ALL fans want, when in the history of football has a chairman been able to do that? Somebody always cops the 'ump. What he IS doing is securing the medium to long term financial security of the club and enhancing it's ability to compete at the highest level.
Hasn't Boris already agreed to support Spurs' NPD with public money? I agree that Levy might need some concrete assurances on that, but threatening the same person with legal action over the OS, to me seems like playing with fire and invokes the saying 'Quit whilst your ahead'. It's all very well taking a bullish stance, but ultimately for all his foppishness, Boris can make or break the NPD project.
It was rumoured that Boris encouraged Levy to bid for the OS in the first place If true it helps to explain Tottenham's campaign
The Robertson comment "I would hope Tottenham would see the greater good to London, maybe it's a fond hope." Yes Mr.Robertson it would be nice if the greater good for London was taken into account. Maybe a properly redeveloped Crystal Palace, a redeveloped WHL, and a development of the OS to include facilitys for minority sports and a pukka football stadium would just be a little better for London than a half arsed use of the OS and a pie in sky bid for one atheletic tournament. Twat!
Doesn't BoJo have to stand for re-election again next year, Piskie? It might not be a good time for him to be making enemies.
