West Ham relegation would cost London taxpayers £2.5m due to poor Olympic Stadium lease: Mayor

The mayor blamed what he told the BBC was “the worst deal imaginable”, negotiated by his Conservative predecessor Boris Johnson, for West Ham’s use of the former Olympic stadium in east London.

West Ham face relegation depending on the outcomes of their game against Leeds and Tottenham Hotspur's game against Everton this weekend.

Under a 99-year lease agreement, West Ham pays the Greater London Authority only about half their current annual rent of £4.4m if relegated.

London taxpayers would have to make up the funding gap, the BBC has reported Sir Sadiq as saying.

Costs to taxpayers would also rise because commercial revenue would be expected to fall if West Ham play in the championship, but stewarding costs would be higher as more games are played over a season in the championship than in the premiership.

“If West Ham are relegated, we, the taxpayers, we City Hall, could lose up to £2.5m a year,” Sir Sadiq said.