THE HEAD OF UK Athletics says Tottenham Hotspur’s plans to ditch the London 2012 Olympic stadium’s running track is “an insult to the whole Olympic project”.

Last week, Spurs made a joint proposal along with entertainment group AEG to takeover the Olympic stadium after the games finish.

However London rivals West Ham United are strong favourites to take up the arena having proposed to retain the running track for multi sports use.

Now Ed Warner, the head of UK Athletics and backer of West Ham’s bid, says that the Tottenham proposal is wasting time. He told The Guardian:

It’s very important for the OPLC [Olympic Park Legacy Company] to make a quick decision on the validity of the bid. There is a danger that this late and apparently frivolous entry into the process will blow the whole thing up.

Spurs proposed bid has been met with widespread opposition. West Ham have dismissed the proposal whilst former Spurs defender Graham Roberts has also described it as “ridiculous”:

It would be a ridiculous move. I was talking to some fans and they’re really unhappy about this. Tottenham are a north London club, not an east London one.

Tottenham have already had planning permission granted to build their own 56,000 seater ground beside their current home, White Hart Lane, but they see the Olympic stadium proposal as a back up.