But the door is still open for Championship side Leyton Orient following a meeting today of the Olympic Board, which is comprised of Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell, the Mayor of London Ken Livingstone, Loncon 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe and the British Olympic Association chairman Colin Moynihan.

 

As reported on insidethegames earlier today, Coe, the 1980 and 1984 Olympic 1,500 metres champion, has insisted on an 'athletics legacy' - which would see the arena reduced to 25,000 but with a track around the perimeter.

 

"At Games time the stadium will hold 80,000," said Coe following the meeting. 

 

"But afterwards it will have 25,000 seats. We have always made it clear we will go forward with track and field facilities but we will encourage other sports to become involved."

 

That leaves Orient as front-runners as their chairman Barry Hearn has already confirmed that his club would be more than willing to accept those terms.

 

"We are the frontrunners for potential usage of the stadium, but there is a long way to go," said Barry Hearn, Orient's chairman. 

 

"In principle, Leyton Orient fits the criteria as occupants of the stadium."

 

Earlier, a statement from London 2012 said: "The Board reiterated that the priority was to deliver an Olympic Stadium on time and on budget.

 

"The Board unanimously decided today, therefore, that it would not be possible to deliver this in collaboration with West Ham, or indeed any other Premier League football club, due to the number of design changes and associated time delays that the West Ham proposal would incur.

 

"The Olympic Board is committed to delivering on its commitment to the communities of London and the IOC (International Olympic Committee) to have a sustainable athletics and community sports-for-all concept in legacy.

 

"They discussed a report on legacy that shows the ‘Living Stadium’ concept - with a mixed sport offering combined with commercial, school and community use - is the most compelling option to delivering the legacy ambition.

 

"The Olympic Board has now commissioned further detailed work on this concept.

 

 "The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, told the Board that he is anxious to assist and support West Ham's plans for developing and securing the future of the club and that, following discussions with him, West Ham United are now exploring with the London Development Agency (LDA) the possibility of relocating and building a new stadium.

 

"One of the options being considered is the former Parcelforce site owned by the LDA next to West Ham Underground Station."