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West Ham stadium owner 'deliberately misleading public'

The war of words between West Ham and the owners of the London Stadium (E20/London Legacy Development Corporation) has stepped up a notch.

E20's chief executive Lyn Garner told the London Assembly that West Ham's annual rent of £2.5m did not come close to covering operating costs.

The club has issued a rebuttal saying that 'this is deliberately misleading the public and, more importantly, taxpayers.' West Ham now pay £3m in rent due to additional annual fees and a further £6m was received by the stadium owner from food and drink sold at their matches. With additional fees, the total revenue from the club is calculated at £10m a year.

The club commented, 'The current strategy to point the finger at West Ham United is simply not the solution to the long-term viability and commercial success of the venture. We are running a football club, not the stadium, and for Ms Garner to lay the blame for any financial struggles at our door is wrong and misleading.'

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