THE DEAL to hand the Olympic Stadium to West Ham after London 2012 has collapsed, it would appear.

The Olympic Park Legacy Committee – the body in charge of the future of the east London stadium – have reportedly ended negotiations with the club because of concerns over the legal action taken by Spurs.

The body handed West Ham the stadium in March after a bitter bid process between the two clubs, but Tottenham are seeking a judicial review of the decision – with a hearing due to be held next Tuesday.

But ministers are expected to announce today that the stadium will now remain in public ownership, with a tenant paying yearly rent to use the 60,000-seater venue, after concerns over the £40m loan provided by Newham Council to West Ham as part of the bid.

In a joint statement, Karren Brady, vice-chairman of West Ham United, and Kim Bromley-Derry, chief executive of Newham Council, said that the legal delay could stop them moving into the stadium in 2014.

They said: “Therefore we would welcome a move by OPLC and government to end that uncertainty and allow a football and athletics stadium to be in place by 2014 under a new process.

“If the speculation is true, West Ham will look to become a tenant of the stadium while Newham will aim to help deliver the legacy.

“Our bid is the only one that will secure the sporting and community legacy promise of the Olympic Stadium - an amazing year-round home for football, athletics and community events of which the nation could be proud.

“The true legacy of London 2012 will be the creation of jobs and a generation of young people inspired by sport based around a community home for all by 2014. We remain committed to help deliver that legacy promise to the people of London and the nation.”

Tottenham are yet to react to the speculation, and are currently stalling on a deal to build a new 56,000-seater stadium in Haringey, that would see the Mayor of London and Haringey Council give £17m to help implement the scheme.