Share

Boss of troubled London Stadium resigns

London - The man in charge of West Ham United's London Stadium stepped down on Thursday, in the latest episode of upheaval to affect the controversy-plagued venue.

David Edmonds has left his post as chairman of the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), which has been responsible for the running of London's Olympic Park since the 2012 Olympics.

It comes after London mayor Sadiq Khan announced an investigation into the rising cost of converting the arena, formerly known as the Olympic Stadium, for use by Premier League club West Ham.

"David has made an enormous contribution to the legacy of the London 2012 Games and he has helped to steer the organisation through some extremely challenging issues," said LLDC chief executive David Goldstone.

"We thank him for all his hard work and wish him well in the future."

The LLDC did not directly cite Khan's inquiry as the reason for Edmonds's resignation. He had been the organisation's chairman since September 2015.

The cost of modifying the stadium has risen from £272 million ($336.8 million, €303.5 million) to £323 million.

West Ham pay £2.5 million per year in rent to play there, having also made a £15 million contribution to the conversion project.

The east London club won the right to play at the stadium in March 2013 and played their first game there last August, after 112 years at Upton Park.

But early fixtures at the ground have been marred by violence between fans, most recently during last week's League Cup victory over London rivals Chelsea.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
How much would you be prepared to pay for a ticket to watch the Springboks play against the All Blacks at Ellis Park or Cape Town Stadium this year?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
R0 - R200
33% - 1814 votes
R200 - R500
32% - 1772 votes
R500 - R800
19% - 1079 votes
R800 - R1500
8% - 458 votes
R1500 - R2500
3% - 186 votes
I'd pay anything! It's the Boks v All Blacks!
5% - 252 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE