West Ham United have welcomed the latest backing from the club's Olympic Stadium legacy partners Newham Council.
Newham has reiterated its commitment to securing the best community, regeneration and sporting legacy for residents from the 2012 Games. Councillors agreed on Tuesday that negotiations should continue between the club, the council, the Olympic Park Legacy Company and the government over proposals for the Olympic Stadium in Stratford.
Deputy Mayor Cllr Andrew Baikie said: "The Olympic Stadium must produce the best community and regeneration benefits legacy for the people of Newham.
"It needs to be a centre of sport, culture and education. It needs to generate much-needed employment and make for a healthier East London by increasing sports and physical activity. It needs a permanent tenant like West Ham United to make sure this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a real, life-changing legacy is not missed."
The relocation of West Ham United to the Olympic venue would also offer the opportunity for the current Boleyn Ground stadium site in Upton Park to form part of a regeneration scheme that would include new homes, shops and community facilities.
West Ham United Vice-Chairman Karren Brady said: "We welcome Newham Council's continued support as underlined at last night's full council meeting. Ours is the natural and logical solution for the legacy of the 2012 Olympic Stadium.
"As we have said, working together with our partners we will help guarantee the 2012 Games deliver the greatest legacy. We will create a busy and vibrant stadium. There will be no white elephant and we welcome Sir Keith Mills' acknowledgement of the strength of our proposal."