Upton Park to provide West Ham home comforts in coming year

With uncertainty still ongoing regarding the future use of the Olympic Stadium, Ladbrokes’ 2/5 about West Ham playing all their Premier League home games at Upton Park next season looks a terrific bet.

While most still expect the Hammers to eventually be granted permission to call the Olympic Stadium their home, it seems extremely far-fetched to suggest that it could happen as early as this season.

Indeed, when initially outlining plans to move into the purpose-built ground, it was said by Hammers chiefs that they could envisage such a scenario ‘as early as 2014.’

The club’s chief executive Karen Brady also told the London Evening Standard as recently as two weeks ago: “Nobody is better placed to deliver the legacy for London than West Ham United.

“Our proposal would ensure a vibrant, busy stadium immediately upon the opening of the venue in 2014.”

A decision on the future inhabitants of the stadium is expected in October of this year, though despite Brady’s comments, it is not necessarily a foregone conclusion that West Ham will be chosen.

Tottenham were initially thought to be at the forefront of potential candidates for the stadium, and maintain ambitions of redeveloping the National Sports Centre at Crystal Palace.

Meanwhile, Leyton Orient also lodged a bid to take over the stadium, and despite having a significantly smaller fan base than their competitors, a ground share with West Ham is not out of the question.

Of course, such circumstances would delay the process of the Hammers moving into the stadium yet further.

All things considered, it simply doesn’t seem plausible for West Ham to complete a move into the Olympic Stadium prior to the end of this season, if they eventually do so at all.

Therefore, the 2/5 odds about them hosting each of their home Premier League matches at Upton Park this term look well worth taking advantage of.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.