Kieran Maguire: West Ham face ‘collapse’ with stadium deal up in the air – ‘egos need to be swallowed’
West Ham have found it ‘incredibly difficult’ to strike a stadium naming rights deal because of their frosty relationship with LLDC.
That is the view of finance expert Kieran Maguire, who spoke exclusively to Football Insider about the politics at play between West Ham and the owners of the London Stadium.
The Hammers moved to the 66,000-capacity stadium in 2016 upon agreeing a deal to rent the venue from London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC).
As per The Times, the London club paid an up-front fee of £15million and pay £2.5million annually to call the stadium home.
LLDC chief Lym Garner claimed that she is optimistic about agreeing a £20million-per-year naming rights deal for the venue by 2024, but Football Insider sources revealed that West Ham are unlikely to secure a £20million deal despite Garner’s claims.
The Premier League outfit and LLDC have also been tangled in a legal battle, with the Daily Mail revealing that the two parties are embroiled in a multi-million-pound secret legal contest.
Maguire believes the current relationship between West Ham and LLDC is no longer ‘in the best interest of both parties’.
“There are a lot of politics at play in London and I think this is indicated by the lack of a close relationship between LDCC and West Ham United,” Maguire told Football Insider.
“Both organisations have different objectives and therefore they have found it incredibly difficult to come together for a naming rights deal.
“It is further evidence that the current relationship is not in the best interest of both parties.
“It will be determined at a later date whether the Hammers will be given the stadium ownership or a rights deal, but there is potential for a political collapse.
“What is clear is that some heads need to be knocked together and some egos need to be swallowed.“
In other news, West Ham on course for £17m windfall – £12m already in the bank