West Ham United's planned move to the new London Olympic stadium would be key to the club's future, says co-owner David Gold.

Gold maintained that the club's proposed move into the Olympic stadium, three miles from Upton Park, after London 2012 could transform the club.

He said: "It's a dream. It could transform West Ham football club. As a fan I want to stay at Upton Park but I'm a realist.

"If West Ham is to move forward and challenge in due course, three or five years from now, we have to move into a state of the art, modern stadium.

"Everybody I've spoken to is in favour of the project. We are looking at the possibility of retractable seating. The Manchester City stadium has been hugely successful and we would like to emulate that."

Gold, however, reassured West Ham fans that the club's name would not be changed after suggestions that it could become 'West Ham Olympic'.

He added: "(The name of) West Ham United would never change while I am co-chairman of the football club. I wouldn't want that change.

"What you might do is call the stadium West Ham Olympic stadium. I can make a case for that."