Town chief executive Simon Clegg says he believes the Olympic Stadium cannot be both the home of a football club and a track and field venue after the 2012 London Games. The 51-year-old was the chief executive of the British Olympic Association before joining the Blues.

Clegg, who has previously backed West Ham’s proposed occupancy, said: "It is quite obvious that the only viable model for the stadium is to have a football club as an anchor tenant.

"I am very clear that it is not compatible to have football and track and field athletics in the same stadium in this country. Football fans in this country want to be as close to the action as possible.

"I articulated this to Sebastian Coe a couple of years ago but the issue has become even more acute for me since I have been involved in a club.

"The West Ham option would be a huge challenge and I don't think it would work. The entire bid was based on the principle of sustainable legacy and not creating white elephants and only 17 months out from the Games we have still not resolved the thorny issue of future of the stadium.

"It's madness to suggest we should keep a track just on the basis we may get an athletics world championships or European championships say once every 15 -20 years."

Clegg says Spurs’ plan to build a dedicated football ground on the Olympic Stadium site with a new athletics venue elsewhere is preferable: "It does seem to me the best solution for the Olympic Stadium would be Tottenham's proposal, but on the proviso of a track and field legacy elsewhere in east London rather than Crystal Palace, which is in the wrong place and where public transport links are not good.

"For me the East End must have a sustainable athletics legacy and it would need to be another new site in east London."

Photo: Action Images

legoman added 20:38 - Jan 19 All makes sense to me Cleggy.
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dude added 20:43 - Jan 19 smart fella, hopefully not to smart for football though
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dirtydingusmagee added 20:56 - Jan 19 It will be a bit odd Spurs being in Stratford ! being a norf London team playing in Eastender's manor , suppose that could be a turf war ! GRANT SORT IT !
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hadleighboyblue added 21:03 - Jan 19 memo to Clegg ............you work for ITFC , concentrate on that job , there's plenty for you to do here without worrying about the Olympics .
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itfc1981 added 21:03 - Jan 19 Ex Olympic CEO and football cheif executive not compatible!
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h32 added 21:21 - Jan 19 ..... wonder what interest there will be in this Club after the Olympics 2012 from ME/SC - just a thought !!!
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Blue_Fred added 22:14 - Jan 19 h32 - premiership football in the August...?
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Suffolk_n_Good added 22:15 - Jan 19 Spot on itfc1981!!
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NSL added 22:27 - Jan 19 Yes Clegg, you are living proof football and Olypics don't go together. tool
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dirtydingusmagee added 22:28 - Jan 19 have to say,i wish the focus was on ITFC , i was always told ''keep your eye on the ball''.
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gypo added 22:35 - Jan 19 What the F@#k' s that got to do with ipswich town , concentrate on sorting out contracts and help pj get players in we need.
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warwickblue added 23:32 - Jan 19 Please keep your mind on the job in hand - there is a transfer window closing before the 2012 Olympics...
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BrettenhamBlue added 01:11 - Jan 20 Please concentrate on contracts and not this
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pennblue added 07:02 - Jan 20 Clegg, you are a complete idiot. Norris and Mcauley are about to walk out the club because of your inept performance. Essentially letting £3.5 million? of assets walk out of our club, we do not have a big enough revenue to allow that to happen, SORT IT OUT AND STOP WORRYING ABOUT THE OLYMPICS.
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Paul_Jewell_Manager added 07:35 - Jan 20 Clegg you should be bleeding blue. why did you need to comment on this?
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dirtydingusmagee added 08:47 - Jan 20 Warwickblue ,i know its a bit of a cheek ,excuse me aresking ,is that Av the rear end of a Suffolk punch ? or you mooning on a webcam , i cant make it out ?
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jas0999 added 11:24 - Jan 20 Who cares. More interested in him spending time negotiating player contracts / transfers for US!
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bobble added 11:57 - Jan 20 i like this geezer he is a bloody giraffe a minute can we send him to Edinburgh for the festival ?
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BlueVelvet added 12:21 - Jan 20 Oly(mpics) Clegg needs to focus on the sport of soccer, as he says football and athletics are not compatible, so keep your nose out others business. If the designers of the olympic stadium had been smart, then they would have designed a moveable lower front tier that covers the running track for football games and retracts to uncover the track for athletics comps - capacities would change but hey ho, it is possible

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BlueMoolay added 13:28 - Jan 20 Oi Cleggy.....why don't you sign up for the 10,000 metres.....keep going, and don't come back.
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WickedBlue added 14:20 - Jan 20 Damn we have some idiots on this board....He was being interviewed and asked a question because of his previous job with the Olympic Committee. Funny I don't normally defend journalists as I think 90% of them are scum...but that was a legitimate question to ask the man.....He gave his answer but people on here are getting their knickers in twist because he answered....that is really pathetic

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RRanger added 14:47 - Jan 20 Well said WickedBlue
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BlueMoolay added 16:17 - Jan 20 Bell End
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warwickblue added 22:56 - Jan 20 dingus -it's the rear end of a suffolk punch - beautifully bedecked for a show, but suitable also to accompany much of what I come out with at times.....
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dirtydingusmagee added 19:35 - Jan 21 thanks, Warwickblue, i also considered it to be an apache putting on his moccasins !
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