West Ham United co-chairman David Gold hopes the club's move to the Olympic Stadium will signal a successful era for the club. The Hammers are planning to move to the stadium from Upton Park in time for the beginning of the 2016/2017 season.

"It's an opportunity. It's an opportunity that comes once in a lifetime," said Gold.

"We have always been in the shadow of Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham.

"There's no denying it, they have always been bigger clubs, they have had bigger stadiums and that's been the key.

"Our stadium all the way through the generations has never matched those three clubs.

"Therein lies the difficulty because we are probably not that far behind in terms of fan bases.

"You could argue Arsenal have reached their potential with their new stadium and everything. You could argue that with Chelsea with the huge money created by their owner.

"With West Ham we are now on our move, our surge."

The club recorded their highest average league attendance for home matches in their 118-year history last season.

"I hope the fans are as excited as me," added Gold.

"It gives us an opportunity to take our football club kicking and screaming into a new era.

"A new era - and into a stadium that will be fit for purpose.

"It will have a facility for 54,000 which will give us the opportunity to have more affordable seating and more affordable football."