Back to the West Ham United Newsfeed

The continuing drain of West Ham's bargain of the century

West Ham United contributed an extra payment of just £185k for using the Olympic Stadium last season, despite enjoying a European cup run which earned them more than £12m.

This season they will not pay any extra for playing in a European competition - even if they make millions in prize money.

Signed off by then London mayor Boris Johnson in 2013, the arrangement means home matches are effectively subsidised by taxpayers, with the stadium losing around £10m a year.

It's a loophole that emerged because the club's original deal to rent the stadium did not cover this particular trophy - meaning they are not obliged to offer even a token payment toward running costs.