Former West Ham chairman Eggert Magnusson says the club is paying for the indulgence of politicians over the London stadium controversy.

The Icelander drew up plans for the venue to become the Hammers' home back in 2006. But they were rejected because London 2012 chief Lord Coe wanted an athletics legacy following the Olympics.

Magnusson met with former mayor Ken Livingstone, Olympics minister Tessa Jowell and other senior Games figures.

And the Hammers chairman from 2006 to 2007 recalled to The Sun: “It was heated. They wanted it to be a monument to athletics.

“Lord Coe had ambitions to be IOC president, so he demanded this. They offered us another site but it wasn't right. They did not want us in at all."