The sports and Olympics minister Hugh Robertson has confirmed he has read all the relevant papers produced by the Olympic Park Legacy Company, and agrees with their choice of West Ham as the preferred bidder over Tottenham for tenancy of the Olympic Stadium. The choice has to be ratified by two Government departments - the Departments of Culture, Media and Sport, and Communities and Local Government - and the London Mayor's office.
Robertson told BBC Radio 5Live's Sportsweek: "I have read all the board papers carefully and I'm entirely sure myself the OPLC's process was robust and independent.''
Asked if in that case he would vote for West Ham to get the stadium, he added: "There is a process to go through but West Ham are clearly in the lead. I'm absolutely convinced that the OPLC process has been robust and independent, so yes.
"We want to make a formal announcement to Parliament but we know the clock is ticking and we want to get it done as quickly as possible.''
Robertson said he did not believe the issue of the running track would cause problems to football fans at the stadium, and said West Ham could have retractable seating so long as they kept their promises to athletics.
He added: "People tend to think of a 1980s' mixed-use stadium. This is a much more modern stadium, the sightlines are much better, the fans are much closer to centre spot than the outer seats at Wembley.
"Anybody who has stood in the middle of where the pitch will be will tell you that it looks much, much better. If West Ham want to bring in retractable seating and can still fulfil the promises they made to athletics then that's fair enough.''
